After Being Forced to, Pharaoh Sent Them Away
David W Palmer
(Exodus 12:31 NLT) Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the LORD as you have requested.”
God had told his people that the devil’s world system would not let them go from enslavement unless he forced them to. In this story, Pharaoh represents the leader of the world’s system; in other words, he is a picture of the devil, and Egypt (in this story) represents the world that’s controlled by the enemy (See: 1 John 5:19).
God ramped up his force on Pharaoh and his strong-hold of God’s people through the 10 plagues of judgment he progressively sent against the enemy’s kingdom. His final judgment on the recalcitrant slave-master was the death of every firstborn in the realm. God’s own people were saved from this plague by obeying his instruction to sacrifice a lamb—representing Jesus, the Lamb of God—sprinkling the blood on their doorways, and eating the whole lamb.
After that, Pharaoh had had enough; he reluctantly sent Moses and God’s people away … because he was forced to:
(Exodus 12:31–36 NKJV) Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said. {32} Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” {33} And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” {34} So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. {35} Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. {36} And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
This was a sudden capitulation from a desperate Pharaoh; he called for Moses by night. Still thinking he was calling the shots, he sent God’s people away, out of his tyranny. Suddenly, they were on their way. That’s why God instructed them to be dressed and ready to travel as they partook the Lamb.
Pharaoh Will Not Let You Go, Unless Forced To
(Exodus 3:19 NLT) “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.”
Today, for you to be completely free of the enemy’s control of every area of your life—including health, finances, freedoms, and mood—you will need to use force on him and his cabal. We don’t fight with the force of physical weapons; we apply the force and spiritually cutting power of the sword of the spirit.
The force of on-fire faith, love, persistence, and complete devotion may initially enrage the enemy and make him hold tighter to what he controls, but this is only temporary. If you persist, continue in faith and biblical patience; if you wield the sword of the spirit unrelentingly, he will relent. Suddenly, he will back down; and although still pretending to be in control, he will command you to go from his slavery, control, and intimidation into freedom and worship.
You will also need the indomitable force of holiness, including a complete defection from the enemy’s camp and his whole world system.
The Force of Right Words … no Wrong Ones
We note that Pharaoh acknowledged the use of and the power of our words:
“Serve the LORD as you have said”
“Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said”
“Bless me also”
The Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.”
The children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses
They granted them what they requested
Your words count. Pharaoh knew words mattered, or he wouldn’t have asked Moses to bless him. The Egyptians acted on their own words; when they said, “We shall all be dead,” they had no hesitation to release their wealth to God’s people. The children of Israel obeyed the words of Moses, and the asked with words and received what God had said was theirs.
Make your words fight for you today. Say what God says. Agree with Jesus, the High Priest of your confession, and wield God’s word as a sword against the enemy. And, if you have brought all aspects of your life under God’s control, when you speak his words—the words of the covenant—they will fight for you, and God will watch over them to see that they are fulfilled. This is God’s “mighty hand” forcing the enemy to let you go. And this is the way you can overcome today. As you persist in this—even if it takes 10 waves of judgment against him—your spiritual enemies will suddenly capitulate into defeat and release you to worship God and serve him according to what you have said.