What are you willing to leave in Egypt?

The Bible frequently makes references to the exodus from Egypt as a sort of spiritual analogy. One aspect of the exodus story that really strikes me is the way that Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses. Moses requested that the entire Israelite people be allowed to make a three-day journey into the wilderness to hold a festival to God. Several times Pharaoh promised to let the people go and then changed his mind as soon as the most recent plague had ended. Then, at the insistence of his officials, Pharaoh  finally agreed to let the men go- but only the men. No women or children.

That wasn't what God wanted, so He sent two more plagues. Then Pharaoh called Moses and said that everyone could go, including women and children, but they needed to leave their flocks and heards in Egypt. Moses said "no," they needed the animals to offer sacrifices. Pharaoh refused, so God brought His final plague. At last Pharaoh set the people free. The Egyptians were so terrified of God and so relieved to see the people go that they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for on the way out.

My question is, what would have happened if Moses had accepted one of Pharaoh's offers? What if he had agreed to have a men-only celebration? What if they decided to go and dedicate themselves and their children to God but leave their possessions in Egypt? Pharaoh knew that in either case they were almost certain to go back to slavery in Egypt. If Moses had given in, if he hadn't trusted God enough to hold on when it got ugly, the world would have never seen the full extent of God's might demonstrated against the Egyptian dieties and the nation of Israel might not exist today.

What kind of spiritual analogy is there?  We are always tempted to accept God's salvation on our own terms. We see that we need Jesus and we are willing to leave some of our sinful life behind in order to follow Him. But some things are harder to submit than others. It is one thing for me to follow God myself, but what if that has an impact on my loved ones? As my values change, dare I allow that to change how I lead my family? What if it means that our lifestyle changes? Can I do that to my kids? Isn't that shoving religion down their throats? They might resent it. What if God calls us to be a missionaries in Africa?

While you probably won't become missionaries in Africa, following God can be scary. If you remember that the other option is slavery to sin and death, however, the cost doesn't seem significant. The key is learning to trust God with your loved ones, something which is even harder than trusting God with your own life. When you marry you make your vows to God first and each other second. As such you are united by God and for God, and He expects you to prayerfully follow His leading together. If God  leads the parents to something, He will be faithful to guard and guide the children just as much (or more) than He does the parents.

As for possessions, how often do I sing "I surrender all" and then decide how much of my wallet is "all" this week? Jesus did not say, "give to Ceasar what is Ceasar, to God what is God's, and keep what is Yours." There are only two categories. One is Ceasar's, that which is demanded by the authorities God has placed above us, and the rest is at God's disposal. That doesn't mean that He will never let me use any of the money, property, talents, and resources that He has given me. It means that I need to view them as His, invest them as His, and treat them all as a loan from Him- and realize that He expects interest on it! Otherwise I will be investing my resources in Egypt and eventually they will drag me back into slavery.