A Spirit of Pharaoh in Our Spirituality
Exodus 5-6
The Spirit of Pharaoh: Rethinking Our Approach to Spirituality
Have you ever found yourself caught in a cycle of constant doing, striving to earn God's favor through your actions? It's a common trap many of us fall into, unknowingly adopting what we might call the "spirit of Pharaoh" in our spiritual lives. This mindset of "go, go, go; more, more, more; now, now, now" can creep into our relationship with God, distorting our understanding of His unconditional love and grace.
Let's take a journey through the book of Exodus to explore this concept further. In chapters 5 and 6, we see a fascinating interplay between God (Yahweh), Pharaoh, Moses, and the Israelites. At first glance, both Yahweh and Pharaoh seem to be asking for service and worship from the people. However, their approaches couldn't be more different.
Pharaoh's approach is characterized by demands, threats, and conditional relationships. We see this in his words: "Get back to work," "Lazy, that's what you are," and "Your work will not be reduced at all." This mentality of constant demands and never-ending quotas can sometimes seep into our spiritual lives, making us feel like we're never doing enough for God.
Surprisingly, we see Moses and the Israelites sometimes viewing Yahweh through this same lens. They misquote God, accusing Him of being evil and threatening them with plagues and death if they don't obey. This misrepresentation reveals how deeply ingrained the "spirit of Pharaoh" had become in their thinking after centuries of slavery.
But God sets the record straight. In Exodus 6:2-6, He reminds Moses of His true nature: "I am Yahweh. I have established my covenant... I will bring you out... I will free you... I will redeem you... I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God." This is the language of unconditional love and covenant relationship, not of a demanding taskmaster.
This revelation invites us to examine our own hearts. How often do we approach our relationship with God as if it were a conditional contract? Do we sometimes think, "I've read my Bible, attended church, served the poor – now God owes me a good life"? This transactional mindset misses the heart of God's love for us.
Consider the illustration of rocks in a jar. Often, we try to fit God into our already full lives, squeezing Him in among our work, family commitments, hobbies, and personal pursuits. But when life gets hard, God is often the first to be pushed out. Instead, we need to reorder our priorities, making God the foundation upon which everything else rests.
Jesus beautifully captures this invitation in Matthew 11:28-30:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
This is the antithesis of the "spirit of Pharaoh." Instead of constant demands and never-ending quotas, Jesus offers rest, gentleness, and a light burden. He invites us into a relationship based on love, not performance.
To illustrate this further, consider the story of a therapist working with a rebellious teenage girl. The girl had been making destructive choices, pushing boundaries, and even entering an abusive relationship – all to provoke a reaction from her father. One morning, she came down to breakfast with a black eye. Instead of responding with anger or disappointment, her father rushed to embrace her, declaring his love and affirming her worth. This unconditional love, in the face of rebellion and poor choices, reflects God's heart toward us.
So how do we shift from a performance-based spirituality to one rooted in God's unconditional love? Here are a few practical steps:
Reflect on your priorities: If you were to illustrate your life with rocks in a jar, what would be your "big rocks"? Where does God fit in this picture?
Meditate on God's covenant love: Spend time in scriptures that emphasize God's unconditional love, like Exodus 6:2-8 or Romans 8:31-39.
Practice receiving God's love: Instead of always trying to do more for God, take time to simply be still and receive His love.
Reorder your life around worship: Let your actions flow from a place of gratitude for what Christ has already done, rather than trying to earn God's favor.
Embrace community: Join a small group or find accountability partners who can help you stay rooted in God's love.
Remember, there's a vast difference between self-inflicted exhaustion and obedient following of Jesus. When we start with receiving God's love and loving Him back, everything else falls into place. Our church attendance, Bible study, service to others, and daily responsibilities all flow from a heart of worship rather than obligation.
As we conclude, let the words of the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" resonate in your heart:
"When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul."
This is the peace that comes from knowing we are loved unconditionally by a covenant-keeping God. It's a peace that allows us to say "it is well" even in the midst of life's storms, because our worth and identity are not based on our performance, but on God's unchanging love for us.
Let's challenge ourselves to root out the "spirit of Pharaoh" from our spirituality. Instead, let's embrace the liberating truth that in Christ, we are already loved, already accepted, and already have everything we need. From this place of security, we can truly live lives that honor God, not out of fear or obligation, but out of joyful response to His amazing love.