WHAT PHARAOH WANTS FROM YOU — SO YOU DON'T ADVANCE
Base Text: Exodus 4:19 — 5 to 10
INTRODUCTION
In the Old Testament, everything is a type, or a symbol of the spiritual. The battles were carnal—struggles against enemies of God and His people—but they represented the spiritual warfare of all times.
Just as there were types of Christ, there are also types of Satan. Pharaoh is one of the clearest: even knowing he was defeated from the start, he was stubborn and insisted on fighting against God.
But the enemy's wars are directly against His people, their faith, against those who still believe his lies and falsehoods. There is nothing worse than a liar. It is those who believe him.
There are Christians who fall into the clutches of the enemy and because of this they do not advance, do not grow, do not enter the land God called them to. They always live defeated.
Let's look at what Pharaoh — a type of Satan — does to keep you from advancing:
1. HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW GOD
«And who is that God? Why should I obey him? I don't know any God of the Israelites, and I'm not going to let you go!» (Exodus 5:2)
The enemy's number one goal is to cloud the mind, the knowledge of God:
«In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.» (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are the perfect example: they walked with Jesus, listened to Him, but their eyes were veiled so they wouldn't recognize Him (Luke 24:15-16).
How many believers walk beside Jesus every Sunday without recognizing Him?
2. HE WANTS YOU TO BE A SLAVE TO WORK
«Get back to your work! Look at how many people you are distracting!» (Exodus 5:4)
«Make them work even harder. Keep them so busy they won't have time to believe the lies of Moses and Aaron.» (Exodus 5:9)
God invited the people to worship Him in the desert. But the enemy intervened with a simple and brutal strategy: more work. And the people believed Pharaoh more than Moses.
There are people who are slaves to work. Anxious about the world, slaves to their debts and schedules. And as long as they believe the enemy, they will have to suffer and endure.
Jesus Himself warned:
«No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money.» (Luke 16:13)
3. THE CONSEQUENCE: DISCOURAGEMENT AND SPIRITUAL DEAFNESS
«Moses told the Israelites everything God had said, but they were so discouraged and overworked they didn't listen to him.» (Exodus 6:9)
Satan wants everyone like this: discouraged, frustrated, ungrateful, so we don't see the glory or power of God.
This is the perfect trap: overwork produces fatigue. Fatigue produces discouragement. Discouragement quenches faith. And without faith, God's people stop advancing.
4. THAT YOU DON'T WORSHIP GOD
«The God of the Israelites, whom I represent, sends me to tell Your Majesty to let us go so we may worship Him in the desert. Since you have not wanted to obey until now...» (Exodus 7:16)
The whole war, the whole attack of Pharaoh, had a single objective: to prevent the people from worshipping God.
Satan continues doing the same today with the same purposes, different forms:
- Daily busyness
- Lack of commitment
- Discouragement
- Distraction
- Not understanding why we are celebrating a service
- Distracted by the cell phone, distracted by a fly
Anything so you don't worship.
5. IF YOU WORSHIP, LET IT NOT BE FAR
«Go and worship your God, but do not leave the country.» (Exodus 8:25)
«I will let you go into the desert to offer sacrifices to your God, as long as you do not go too far.» (Exodus 8:28)
Pharaoh's most subtle strategy: not to forbid worship, but to limit it.
That is: if you are going to worship, do it halfway. Do not make a true sacrifice. Do not sing with surrender. Do not commit too much.
To the modern believer it sounds like this: «Don't commit too much. You are very busy. You don't have time for God. There are other priorities. Get your house and your life together first.»
How many believers worship God without leaving the «country» —without leaving their comfort zone, without real surrender?
6. HE WANTS YOUR FAMILY
«Do you think I will let you take your children? If you really want to worship your God, only the men may go.» (Exodus 10:10-11)
The enemy stops your advance because his deepest objective is to steal your family. He cares more about the children than anything else.
Pharaoh wanted your children and your wife. The text is clear: «only the men may go.»
The strategy is the same today:
- Parents who worship alone and leave their children at home
- Marriages where one serves God and the other does not
- Youth dragged by the culture while parents are in the service
7. HE WANTS YOUR ECONOMY
«Go worship your God! You may take your children, but leave your sheep and cows here.» (Exodus 10:24)
Satan knows that the economy is a source of blessing. If he captures it, he produces discontent and fighting.
He steals your money because if you don't learn to give to God, the enemy will steal it in other ways. The sacrifice must be complete. God did not bring Israel to the desert to ruin them —God blesses. But people don't believe Him.
CONCLUSION
Moses did not let himself be blackmailed any of the times Pharaoh tried to negotiate. He faced him and said with absolute certainty:
«We will not give you what you want. Everything is God's and everything belongs to Him. We will give complete worship.»
That must be our posture today.
You do not negotiate with the enemy. You don't give him a little. You don't adjust the offer.
- Don't negotiate your knowledge of God
- Don't negotiate your time of worship
- Don't negotiate the faith of your children
- Don't negotiate your economy for the work of God
Christ broke all the chains on the cross. What Pharaoh wants from you, he can no longer take —unless you give it to him.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
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Which of Pharaoh's 7 strategies is operating strongest in your life right now?
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Are you worshipping God completely or «without leaving the country» —halfway, without real surrender?
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Are your children and spouse included in your walk with God, or does the enemy have them separated?
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What areas of your economy have you not yet placed in God's hands?
🎥 Watch the Full Sermon
Watch on YouTube: What Pharaoh Wants from You — Pastor Josué Angarita
Outline by Pastor Josué Angarita — Iglesia MMM Portal Campestre, Girón, Santander, Colombia.