Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us.” So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.
Comment: After Christmas and its fantastic meaning we are back into Exodus and the events involved in God rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. After a number of plagues at the moment the land is swarming with flies. Yuck! Pharaoh makes a promise, but not permitting the Israelis to leave Egypt. They have to make their sacrifice to Yahweh inside Egypt. Obviously going three days into the neighbouring desert is God’s plan to get ‘His chosen people’ on the way to freedom! Hating the flies Pharaoh softens says ‘Okay go into the wilderness, but not very far!’ Moses prays; God deals with the flies; Pharaoh changes his mind and refuses to let the people go. You’d have thought that he, by now, would have learnt his lesson! I wonder what is coming next!
Prayer: Help me to make my ‘yes’ ‘yes’ and my ‘no’ ‘no’, O Lord.
As I read it! 