Moses and the elders were to let Pharaoh know that they were messengers of the Lord who were compelled to speak by the Lord’s command. If we speak to the world with the words of the Lord, and call sinners to repentance and announce the offer of the gospel with the Scriptures open, we too may speak with boldness as we share in the joy of the Lord’s power. The messengers to Pharaoh did not come as beggars but as ambassadors announcing the plans of the Lord.
Although God knew that Pharaoh would not bend his knee before the Lord because it was completely against his plan of killing the male babies and mixing the church in with his Egyptian nation, the proclamation of the gospel, even to unwilling hearts, displays God’s patience and desire to see conversion.
The Lord told Moses that he would need to display his power in Egypt with many wonders, in order to compel the king by his mighty hand. This also meant that the Israelites could not expect immediate results and would need to prepare for increased suffering before things got better. Sharing in the Lord’s power does not mean we always get what we want, or that we will have an easy life, but it does mean that in whatever we face we may know that he is on our side and he is fighting for our good.
With the Lord as our God, all things work for the good of those who love him, and the Lord assured Moses of the extent of his power by telling him that he would so completely humble Egypt that the women would be giving them so much of their silver, gold, and clothing that even the Israelite children would be enriched through the plunder (Exodus 3:21–22)!
18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’