How can we ensure our worship includes everything God requires, as in Exodus 10:26? Setting the scene in Exodus 10 Pharaoh tries one more compromise: the people may go, but their animals must stay. Moses refuses. If God has asked for sacrifice, every last hoof must travel. Nothing short of full obedience will do. Key verse Exodus 10:26: “Our livestock must also go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind, for we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God, and we will not know what we will need to worship until we arrive there.” What “not a hoof left behind” teaches us • God alone determines acceptable worship. • His requirements may reach further than we presently grasp. • Obedience means bringing everything He claims as His. • Half-measures fall short of true service. Total consecration: holding nothing back • Mark 12:30—love Him with all heart, soul, mind, strength. • Romans 12:1—present bodies as living sacrifices. • 1 Peter 2:5—spiritual sacrifices acceptable through Christ. Worship that withholds time, abilities, or resources contradicts the very essence of sacrifice. Let God define the content of worship • Leviticus 9:6—“This is what the LORD has commanded you to do.” • John 4:24—worship in spirit and truth. • 1 Corinthians 14:40—orderly worship. The Word gives clear commands: public reading of Scripture, prayer, preaching, singing, ordinances, giving, fellowship. Additions or subtractions based on preference leave “hooves” behind. Let God shape the heart of worship • Psalm 51:16-17—broken and contrite heart. • Micah 6:6-8—justice, mercy, humble walk. External forms without inward surrender resemble animals left in Egypt—technically present but unavailable for God’s use. Let God direct the means and order • Hebrews 12:28—serve with reverence and awe. • Colossians 3:16—Word-saturated singing and mutual edification. • Hebrews 10:25—gather faithfully. He specifies corporate gathering, the preaching of Christ, baptism, the Lord’s Table, and congregational participation. Observing these means keeps every “hoof” under His authority. Let God receive the costly offering • 2 Samuel 24:24—“I will not offer...that cost me nothing.” Sacrifice always costs: repentance, forgiveness, generous giving, time, energy, reputation. Refusing the cost leaves resources in Egypt and robs God of glory. Practical ways to bring “everything God requires” today • Examine services and personal devotion against Scripture—align practices, songs, and symbols with biblical commands. • Prepare hearts before gathering—confession, meditation on the Word. • Bring full selves—attentive minds, engaged voices, physical presence. • Offer tangible resources—firstfruits giving, hospitality, service. • Guard holiness—repent quickly, pursue reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24). • Submit to the Spirit—prompt obedience when He convicts through Scripture. • Keep learning—ongoing study reveals further areas of obedience we did not know we would need “until we arrive there.” Summary Moses would not leave a single hoof in Egypt because he expected God to require whatever He pleased for proper worship. In the same way, faithful worship today means holding nothing back, letting Scripture set the agenda, and gladly paying the cost so that every aspect of life, church, and resource is ready for His service. |
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