As I was reading Exodus 10, it would've been easier to really focus on God's attributes. I was thinking of breaking the passage down between God's attributes: His graciousness, His mercy, and His sovereignty. But I think it would be very helpful as well if we focus on Moses and his response to these attributes of God that He demonstrated to Moses to others.
This chapter highlights the different facets of Moses' servitude toward God:
1. We are exalted and favored in serving God
2. We will be in disagreement with how God is calling us to work for Him.
3. We will not always see fruit when serving God.
Exodus 11:3 emphasizes the first point: Moses was regarded highly by the Egyptians and officials. In the same regard the Egyptians are also "favorably disposed" to the Israelites, meaning they were willing to help out the Israelites who they enslaved before Moses showed up. Now what about people who go to unreached places of the world and die preaching the Gospel? It's important to see who is favoring Moses and who isn't. It's safe to say that those who have witnessed God's power and sovereignty will be those who will support brothers and sisters in faith. And the important thing is that when we are called to do something, we sometimes convince ourselves that we are without support and without help in answering God's calling. We make missions to be this romantic journey we need to embark on ourselves to find God by serving Him without interference from Christians. But know in confidence that our very brothers and sisters back home are praying constantly for us because God moves through them to support us in our callings.
Exodus 11:8 points this out. Many commentators would point to the idea that Moses is probably angry with pharaoh for being so hard-hearted and stubborn. It would be reasonable for Moses to be angry with someone who is so stubborn that it will result in the wiping out the first born sons of Egypt. But in order to understand who Moses was angry with, we have to look at Exodus 11:9. God is the one who explains to Moses time and time again that it was by His had that this was all happening and it's safe to say Moses knows that all too well. So I think Moses' anger isn't directed so much at pharaoh, but it was directed to the One who orchestrated this whole event: God. Why was Moses angry? Look at God's response to that anger. Moses just delivered a death sentence to a few thousand males in Egypt because God set it up that way and He commanded Moses to do so. 1 Samuel 15:2-3 shows a similar scenario where God orders the death of Canaanite women and children. God's response was so that His wonders may be multiplied in Egypt. We may be called to doing something difficult (of course under God's law of no murder, stealing, or any other sin) like forgiving that person who hurt our closest friend, or maybe parents who were never there for us as children. And we would lash out at God asking "Why God, why do you want me to do this? Why should I beg people to help raise funds for my missions trip? Why should I give to this homeless man when all I know he'll do with it is spend it on alcohol? Why should I waste my degree in college that I worked so hard obtaining by going to seminary? Why should I lose sleep by going to church in every Sunday or fellowship on Fridays? Why are you asking me to give my life to you when I know it won't be for my benefit anyway?
The lasts point is an emphasis on Exodus 11:10. It's hard to keep working towards something when there is no fruit. It's biblical to ask God to see signs of fruit from wherever we're called to work. But know that we are not entitled to seeing the fruits of the seeds we planted. Just look at Moses. At this point, he's not seeing any progress in his work. He goes to pharaoh constantly and he gets the same answer each time: a rejection. And know that the only thing keeping Moses going is the words of God Himself.
And in our calling in life, whether it's a family or whether it's doing missions somewhere else around the world we should be moved by the words of God Himself, not by the fruits of our labor. Because there will come a time when we won't see the fruits of our labor. And when that time comes we will be angry with God. We will ask Him again why He called us to do something that seems oh so pointless in all human perspective. And we forget God's support and the people who are following us that God is working through. We forget His sovereignty, His grace, His power, and His mercy. Just look at Jesus' ministry. There were no Christian converts when He was still alive. And when He died on the cross, look at what happened to His ministry: it fell apart. Jesus' closest followers who said they would devote their entire lives to the ministry hid at the time Jesus was glorifying God the most. If you want to see someone who served God not motivated by the fruits of His labor, look at the obedience Jesus displayed in Calvary. For in that instance, although He would save the lives of millions in the future, He was alone on the cross with no converts, no supporters, no friends, and no help, with so much pain to be moved into reciting Psalm 22:1.
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