Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: October 5, 2008
THE EGYPTIAN UNITY CONFERENCE
George Dehoff
When Moses as the representative of the Lord went to Egypt to call Israel into the wilderness to worship
God, Pharaoh called a "unity conference." He did not want the Israelites to go, so he proposed a
compromise with Moses. He offered four different boards, but Moses did not move to the middle of any of
them. He stretched out four wires, but Moses would not walk them. The devil and his servants propose
the same four-point program today that Pharaoh advanced in the long ago:
Pharaoh said, "Let the Israelites worship in Egypt. Folks are just as good here as over in the wilderness
where the Lord said go" (See Ex. 8:25). Moses said, "God has commanded us to go, and we must go."
Today, Christ calls for people to obey the gospel, to be born again, to come into His kingdom. The devil
replies by saying, "There are folks outside the church just as good as any inside. The church cannot save
anybody. You can be saved outside the church." But Christians know that all who "should be saved" are in
the church; that if a man is saved outside the church, he is saved when the Lord said he should not be
(Acts 2:47). God wants people in the church, and not outside. God's children are in God's family. He has
no children outside His family. We must be adopted into God's family (Rom. 8:15). An orphan child might
grow up in a home without being adopted. He would have no promise of receiving any inheritance. If
adopted into the family, such a child might expect to receive as much inheritance as any of the other
children. When we are in the family — the church — we may expect the heavenly inheritance. Those
outside the church have no promise of a reward in heaven. We want unity, but not on the devil's basis.
When Moses failed to meet Pharaoh on the first plan, Pharaoh offered another. He said, "If you just must
go, do not go very far." (See Ex. 8:28). With Pharaoh, anything was good except what Jehovah had
commanded. Moses told him that the people must go a three days journey into the wilderness to worship
God. Pharaoh's attitude represents that of people today who say that a man ought to go into the church,
only, "go ye not very far." Do not be too interested in the Lord's work. The devil knows that if a man comes
into the church and then sits down on the chair of "do nothing" and whittles on the stick of "do less," he
may as well have stayed out of the church. Many have been baptized who did not continue faithful. I
suppose they were "nominal Christians." The devil would like for us to unite on this plan. We cannot.
Pharaoh then proposed another plan for unity: "Let the men go, but leave the little ones at home." (See
Ex. 10:9-11). This Moses would not do. This is typical of folks today who do not train up their children "in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord." There should be much preaching and teaching along the line of
bringing up children. I am told that only a young man would venture to do it. Others say they have learned
better. I think the Holy Spirit caused Paul to write so much along that line, and not the fact that he had
no children. People who suggest such are more interested in being humorous than in being Scriptural.
They seek, with a touch of humor, to evade the force of truth. Children should be taught God's Word. It is
the duty of parents to see that this is done. They should take their children with them to Bible classes,
prayer meetings, and other assemblies of the church. Some have said, "I do not want to make my children
attend, as they might grow up and be turned against the church. This childish suggestion finds a place
only in religion. No mother ever refused to make children bathe because she feared they would grow up
and never bathe again. No mother ever refused to make her children attend school for fear they would
grow up and be turned against the things they learned. If children are properly brought up, they will not
have to be forced to attend worship. They will want to go. Nevertheless, if needs must be that parents
make their children go, they must see to it. God will not hold them guiltless if they fail to do this. When
your children are grown, they will do as they please, and they will be responsible. But when they are
growing up, parents are, in a large measure, responsible. Yes, the devil would like to see the young people
turned over to him. But, considering the folks who have reared them, we have a fine group of young people
in the church, and we will not compromise on that point.
Finally, Pharaoh suggested that the people go, but leave their property at home — leave their flocks and
herds behind. (See Ex. 10:24-26). Moses said, "There shall not a hoof be left behind." The devil today
suggests to members of the church that they be Christians, but leave their pocketbooks behind. Many
members of the church never let being a Christian come near touching their business of "their flocks and
herds." There must be much teaching along the line of Christian stewardship and Christian giving. No
man can buy his way into heaven, but the member of the church who does not give as he is prospered
cannot get into heaven. He has compromised with the devil. Yes, when Moses "preached the word,"
Pharaoh yelled for unity. So shall it ever be. When faithful Christians preach the truth as did faithful
pioneers in days gone by, as did the apostles of our Lord in the first century, the devil and his servants
will yell for unity. They will offer the same suggestions that Pharaoh offered to Moses. Moses refused
these suggestions and had unity on the basis of God's original statement to him. We can have unity
today — we do have unity today — on the terms of God's Word. "This is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith."
Via “Gospel Preceptor”
www.gospelpreceptor.com
QUOTES
Allegiance to the King of kings is patriotism of the highest type.
Let him who desires to discredit or to degrade the Bible produce a better book.
Despite inflation, the wages of sin remain the same.
Happiness in marriage does not come through the pleasing of self, but in the pleasing of one’s companion
in that which is good.