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“Not A Hoof Shall Be Left Behind”

In Exodus 7-12, we see the efforts of God through Moses attempting to persuade Pharaoh to release the children of Israel from bondage. Through a series of plagues, we see Pharaoh’s heart becoming more and more resistant — the plagues of blood, frogs and lice not moving him. But when the flies came, Pharaoh offered his first compromise:

“Go, sacrifice to your God in the land” (Exodus 8:25).

When Moses refused such a suicidal attempt, Pharaoh offered his second compromise:

“I will let you go …. only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me” (Exodus 8:28).

God removed the plague of flies, only to have Pharaoh harden his heart and refuse to let the people go. So, pestilence, boils, and hail came, and the threat of locusts. Then came the third effort at compromise:

“Go now, you who are men, and serve the Lord” — leaving your women, children, and the flocks behind (Exodus 10:8-11).

Pharaoh did not let go without a struggle, but Moses stood firm, the locusts came and after that the plague of darkness. Now Pharaoh tries one more compromise:

“Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back” (Exodus 10:24).

Pharaoh was saying, “Take all to serve God, except your material possessions.” Perhaps he knew their hearts would remain with the possessions — or perhaps he sought to deprive them of that which they would need to successfully carry out their new venture.

Whatever the reason, we are doomed to failure if we think we can serve God acceptably while leaving anything we possess in Satan’s hands. But Moses accepted no compromise:

“Not a hoof shall be left behind” (Exodus 10:26).

As Christians, we must live in this world, but our citizenship is in the spiritual realm (Philippians 3:20; cf. Colossians 3:1-2). When we transferred our allegiance from the world to the Lord, we determined to give up the world and give ourselves to the Lord — we determined that “Not a hoof shall be left behind.”

Because of what we know from the Scriptures regarding Satan, we know that he will do everything he possibly can to convince us that we can serve God “in Egypt” or ”just a little way out” or compromise the faith for the sake of family or possessions.

Brethren, know this: If we give Satan a hoof, he’ll take a leg, loin, chuck roast and all! (1 Peter 5:8).