The Propel of God and Fulfilling My Purpose

Exodus 11:1 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.

Something different finally happens in the plague routine with God, Moses and Pharaoh. After several notifications from God that Pharaoh would not budge after the next plague, we come to the 10th and final plague and God has Good News for Moses. This is going to be the end. From this moment forward, there will not just be a total destruction of Egypt's power over you, Egypt will drive you away "completely".

Did you also notice how God prophesies to Moses that this will be the end? That's revealing someone else Who will be prophesied throughout scripture. When Jesus came, it was truly the END of slavery to sin and death.

The last plague is a picture of our salvation in Christ. As the firstborn Son of God, He bears the death of us all, He destroys the devil's power over us and we are propelled from the cross to life with God. We are not simply "saved" from sin. We are driven completely from it's grip. Sin cannot hold us, it cannot entice us, and there's no going back for those who are born of the Spirit of God.

Perhaps sin is still a struggle for you Christian. Do not give up hope. Like Pharaoh, the spirit of this world is stubborn upon us. Yet we have someone greater on our behalf forever interceding for us.
Hebrews 7:23–25 (ESV) The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Notice the distinction for Jesus. He is high priest forever because he cannot die and will never give up. He is therefore able to "save to the uttermost" (completely) those who draw near to God through Him (Christians). Your deliverance from sin's grip is not up to you. It's empowered and propelled by Christ. 

There is one other detail the Biblical writer wants us to notice:
Exodus 11:3 (ESV) And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

During the process of God's redemptive power, not only did God become exalted over all the gods of Egypt. But the Israelites became honored in Egypt! The former slaves are now favored in the sight of the Egyptians. God saving work in you will eventually be honored and respected by those who may not even believe like you.

And notice as well: "Moreover, the man Moses was VERY great in the Land of Egypt... Pharaoh's servants... the people." This of the personal satisfaction this must have brought to Moses. The last time he left Egypt he was a runaway fugitive with egg on his face as he tried his best to do what God was going to do in his own strength. 40 years later PLUS time with God PLUS obedience to His commands elevate Moses beyond anything he had before.

When we think its our own abilities that can propel us to where God wants us to be (and where we ultimately want to be) we will fall every time. Moses learned a powerful lesson here. God with him was the determinative factor in Moses' life. And for every Child of God in Christ, the same is 100% true. Paul said, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

D. L. Moody put it like this: "Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; then he spent forty years on the backside of the desert realizing he was nobody; finally, he spent the last forty years of his life leaning what God can do with a nobody!"