Be Prepared

"Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, 'Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.' But Moses said, 'You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice them to the Lord our God. Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the Lord.'" -Exodus 10.24-26

After nine plagues Pharaoh has had about all that he can take. Moses comes before him and Pharaoh says, "Take all the people, young and old, men and women, but leave your animals behind." But Moses tells him, "That's not good enough. We need our animals so that we will be able to properly worship God." The offer is getting close, but it isn't all that God had promised yet, and so Moses doesn't take it.

He was told that the people would worship God on the mountain, but God didn't tell him how. He knows that to be able to properly do what God requires they need to be prepared with all of their flocks and herds. Israel has lost the tradition of worship, 400 years of slavery will do that to you. In Leviticus we see God teaching His people how to worship Him, but for now Moses knows they simply must be prepared and ready for whatever God asks.

Men, are you prepared to do whatever God asks? Do you have your resources and skills at the ready, so that God can use you? Is your sword polished and sharpened for battle? Or are you headed out to the wilderness while your sword is sheathed back in Egypt? Are you prepared to worship God?

Had Israel taken this offer they would have gotten into the wilderness and been unable to worship God. They would have been unprepared because they took an offer that was "good enough". But God doesn't settle for good enough, He always has the best in store for His people. Moses knew what God had said, and he would make sure the people were prepared to be able to worship God as He instructed. Are we prepared to do whatever God asks? To give Him whatever He desires? Be prepared.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor