“And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met (Moses,) and sought to kill him.” (Exodus 4:22-24)
Pharaoh wanted to tell Moses how the Israelites would serve God. At first, he told them they could serve the Lord in their own land, but not in the wilderness. Then, that they could not take the woman and children with them. Then, that they could not take their flocks with them. But God told Moses to command Pharaoh: “Let my people go, that they may serve me” (Ex. 8:1)
Firstly, they were not to serve the Lord in the land of Goshen, lest the Egyptians became offended with their form of worship. They were to go three days into the wilderness (Ex. 3:18; 8:25-27). Next, all the people were to be let go, not just the males among them (Ex. 10:9). Finally, all their animals were to go with them, because only when they reached Sinai would they know specifically “with what we must serve the LORD” (Ex. 10:25,26).
How seriously God takes this business of service to Him. Moses himself had to be fully free to hear from God prior to fulfilling his mission in Egypt. God was ready to kill him as he was on his way back to Egypt because of his own personal failure to obey (Ex. 3:24-26). He was sent to re-establish God’s covenant with the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and yet, his own sons were uncircumcised. Why? Because his wife, a Midianite, was not on board with him over this. She objected to the “bloody” Hebrew ritual of circumcision. But even as God would not let Pharaoh dictate the terms of the people’s worship of Him; neither would He permit Zipporah to do likewise.
The man who would serve God must serve Him freely – without condition, restriction, or interference. He must be at liberty to obey the voice of God. This is the essence of being God’s servant. The Lord is waited upon. He is our Head. He tells us what to do, and how to do it. Full submission must precede “reasonable service.” We yield to Him our bodies, every part of us is at His service. (Rom. 12:1). Only in such a position can we discover “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2) There is now nothing standing in the way of our full submission and complete obedience to God.
Let the world find their freedom to serve their own lusts. Let them throw off God’s yoke, and despise every restriction He would put upon them. But may God’s people find their freedom in putting on His yoke, and serving Him without hindrance or restriction. Through His mercies, this is what He has set us free for.