Lies Told By Men of God #5: Moses

Another example of a prophet deliberately misleading someone is Moses.  In this case, God had instructed him, “Say to Pharoah: ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, manifested Himself to us. Now, therefore, let us go a distance of three days into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord our God'” (Exodus 3:18).  The impression is that this was an excursion, after which they would return.   However, nothing in the instructions to Moses or Moses’ words in carrying out those instructions hint that they plan to return.   When comparing the times when the request was made to Pharoah to let the people go, it is repeatedly mentioned that he release them so they can worship God in the desert (cf. Ex. 3:12) and that they did that very thing when they eventually leave (Ex. 24:5) shows that was their intent.   

As already shown, this could be another case that helps us understand what makes a lie a lie.  If the children of Israel were allowed to go, would they have sacrificed to God?  Ans. Yes.  When asking to go on a three-day trip, did Moses ask that question with the intent that they worship God?   Ans. Yes.  One could reason that if it was an ongoing desire to worship, they would never have a desire to return.  But, this is similar to God telling Samual to plan on offering sacrifices when coming to town to annoint David because then you could tell Saul, when inquiry is made, that you have come to sacrifice.  

By contrast, Pharaoh lied many times in his negotiations with Moses, even breaking his own promise to release them (8:4, 8:11; 8:24, 8:28; 9:27-28, 9:34-35; 10:16-17, 10:20).  In other words, while he promised them, he never intended to follow through.

So far, it appears from the Old Testament texts that one should always speak the truth with our mouth so that the word’s spoken are accurate and true, even though the heart has chosen to withhold any further information or explanation of the words that were chosen to speak.  Now, why would someone choose this approach?  Ans. Because evil men like Saul and Pharoah who have an evil heart and speak with evil intent.  The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.  Such men neither understand nor sympathize with the things of God.   Consequently, unlike giving the meaning of parables to the disciples, the enemy is given just enough information as necessary.  No further explanation and impartation of all the truth would alter evil hearts.  They tell lies, they believe lies, and their evil heart will respond to the truth with evil intent.  It is for this reason that we may choose not to speak plainly to the evil and dishonest heart.   Yet, what words we do speak, must be the truth.