Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ

Expressions of a Slave Mentality

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-02-17

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver examines Exodus 14:10-12 to identify four expressions of a slave mentality: cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. He argues that the Israelites' fear, desire to return to Egypt, contentment with slavery, and preference for comfort over freedom mirror the mindset of many modern Americans. Weaver contends that true freedom comes only through Christ and requires rejecting worldly conformity, thinking biblically, and being willing to fight for truth and liberty.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bible's day to the book of Exodus chapter 14. The title of the message today is expressions of a slave mentality, expressions of a slave mentality, Exodus chapter 14. And let's begin reading there with verse 10. Exodus 14, verse 10. And when, when, when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes and behold, the Egyptians marched after them and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

[John Weaver] And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, that we should die in the wilderness.

[John Weaver] Have you ever noticed that most people do not think for themselves? And have you ever noticed that those who do not think independently somehow all fit into the same mold? Does not matter where you travel in America, most people think the way the news commentators, the propaganda experts, the TV and the Hollywood film directors lead them. And it's not something new, it's something that is very, very old.

[John Weaver] It is evidence of a slave mentality. Now the slave mentality expresses itself in many and varied ways. There are very few things over which slaves really genuinely concern themselves. They're really more interested in their comfort, provision, and rest than anything else. They do their work, they eat, they drink, and rest, and anything over and above that is beyond them and they do not concern themselves with it.

[John Weaver] All they simply want to do is exist. And I submit to you that is where most Americans really are. They're just trying to exist and they really just want to exist. Years ago I preached a message on the slave mentality from the book of Judges. That message is in my second book and I'm not re-preaching that message. This message is totally completely different from that. But it's amazing to me that as I read through the Bible so many times you find a slave mentality and always, no exceptions, that slave mentality is always condemned.

[John Weaver] Now the children of Israel had been slaves. They had been enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years. Consequently their thinking had been conditioned and they basically thought as slaves think. So it's not unique then to find the children of Israel when they first come out of Egypt thinking as slaves think. What is unique about this situation to me is simply this, that the average American today thinks exactly the way the Israelites did when they first came out of Egypt.

[John Weaver] They were in bondage and they knew it. We're in bondage and we don't even realize it. We are equally enslaved as Israel was of old and it is evidenced by a slave mentality. Now, before someone objects and says, but wait a minute, I don't have a slave mentality. May I remind you of Romans chapter 12 and verse 2, where the word of God says, now listen carefully, and be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Now the word conformed literally means to be pressed into a mold. And in the context, it specially refers to the mold of thinking as the world thinks so God says be not conformed to this world don't be pressed into the mold of worldly thinking but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so anyone then who is pressed into a mold and thinks as the world is thinking as a slave thinks because may I point out that Romans chapter 6 teaches that those who are unsaved are already slaves to sin.

[John Weaver] That's why Romans chapter 6 talks about the domination or the dominion of sin and how we who are in Christ Jesus have been freed from the dominion of sin and we are now under dominion to the Lord Jesus Christ. So there is a slavery that exists just by virtue of the fact that people are unsaved and just by virtue of the fact that people think the way the world thinks.

[John Weaver] Now the Bible teaches us in 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 17, now the Lord is that spirit. And where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. So where the spirit is not, there is no liberty. So if the Holy Spirit then is the one who produces liberty and freedom, where He is not, there can only exist bondage and slavery. That's why in Romans 8 and verse 9, the scripture says, therefore if any man be in Christ, or therefore, let me quote it again, now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. What does that mean? That means if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you do not belong to Christ. If you do not belong to Christ, then you're still under the dominion of sin, and you're lost, and you're unsafe. That's why in John 8 in verse 36, the scripture said, If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.

[John Weaver] And it's only after we're regenerated, only after we're converted, that we understand what real freedom really is. And that's why in Galatians 5 in verse 1, scripture says, Stand fast therefore in the liberty or in the freedom wherewith Christ hath set you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. So Christ then has freed us. But not only is there a bondage to sin by nature and a bondage revealed by worldly conformity and worldly thinking, there's also a bondage that attends a misconception of reality. We perceive and think sometimes that we really know what freedom is and that we are free when we are hopelessly bound by the laws and the traditions of men.

[John Weaver] It was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who said this, none are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they're free. You're hopelessly enslaved when you just simply falsely believe that you're free. Now, simply saying that we are free does not make us free. Simply believing that we are free does not make us free. It would be an interesting poll to find out the definition that most Americans today give to freedom. How many of you have heard people say, well, we're the most free country in the world? Well, we say we're free and yet we have to be licensed and regulated and controlled and spied upon and manipulated by our own government.

[John Weaver] I never will forget how horrified I was, and it had to be nearly 40 years ago, 35 to 40 years ago, when I was up in Virginia in Fairfax County, Virginia, which, by the way, was a seat of religious and political liberty and freedom back in the 1700s. But when I was in Fairfax County, Virginia, nearly 40 years ago, and I found out that you could not cut a tree down off your own property without having a permit from the local government. I couldn't believe it. I just could not believe it. And yet it was true that long ago.

[John Weaver] You see, the evidence that we are actually slaves comes forward in our slave mentality. We do not know how to think as free men. We do not know how to think as free individuals. Practically everywhere you look, you can find expressions of a slave mentality. So, let's ask this question. How does a slave mentality express itself? Well, I'm going to look in Exodus chapter 14, and I'm going to show you four evidences of a slave mentality. So first of all, I want you to look at verse 10. The Bible says, Exodus 14, And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes.

[John Weaver] And behold, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were sore afraid. and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." First, the slave mentality expresses itself in cowardice. Cowardice. Notice, if you would, what the scripture said, that these individuals were sore afraid. Why were they afraid? Now, you could say, well, some of the Israelites may have been unarmed They may have been, but you've got to remember this, that in all probability, the Israelites outnumbered the Egyptians that were marching after them. Moreover, you could say, well, those Egyptians were disciplined military fighting men. Well, that may have been true. And Israel may have been inferior militarily speaking, But however, I taught yesterday and I demonstrated yesterday how Israel was organized as a militia and they marched out of Egypt as a militia.

[John Weaver] If you would look in Exodus chapter 13 and verse 18 right there. Exodus 13 verse 18. But God led the people about through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. Now the word harnessed is a very interesting word. It is translated as armed twice in our Bibles. It is translated as armed men once in our Bibles. And it refers to the fact that Israel went up out of Egypt in battle array in ranks of five.

[John Weaver] So they were marching out as a militia. They were not defenseless. They were not helpless. Moreover, you've got to remember this, the Lord had already revealed to Moses exactly what he was going to do to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and how that God would get him honor from the destruction of Pharaoh and his army. Moreover, you've got to remember this, that Israel had just been miraculously delivered out of Egypt by the hand of the Lord.

[John Weaver] The blood had been applied and they were now being led by the pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. You would think that under such a situation and such circumstances, the children of Israel having been miraculously delivered and miraculously led, they would have been saying, if God be for us, who can be against us? But they weren't saying that. Instead of lifting up their faith, look what the scripture says, and they lifted up their eyes.

[John Weaver] What they saw terrified them. What they looked at was very disconcerting. Why? They were not operating in the realm of faith, they were operating in the realm of sight. And the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 7 says as Christians, listen carefully, for we walk by faith and not by sight. You see, sight always looks at situations. It looks at circumstances. It looks at fleshly observations. Faith always looks to the Lord and to His Word and to His power and to His promises. Since the Israelites were not looking by faith, Here's what they saw.

[John Weaver] The sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, and being walled in by the wilderness. They basically saw no escape. So to the natural eye, looking by sight, escape was impossible. Captivity or death, absolutely certain. But don't you look back at verse 10 again. Here's another interesting thought. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And behold, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were sore afraid. Now look! And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. Wow! You know, David said in Psalm 3 and verse 4, I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me and delivered me out of His holy hill.

[John Weaver] But may I point something out? There is a vast difference between a cry of faith and a cry of desperation and fear. The children of Israel here did not cry out in faith. They cried out in fear. Their crying out was only from their troubles, only from their observations, only from what they saw. It was only a result of their despair and their upcoming defeat. They cried to the Lord, but they had absolutely no confidence in Him.

[John Weaver] They did not trust in Him. They did not believe in His help, notwithstanding all the previous manifestations of His mercy and His grace that had been given to them. How do we know that their cry was a cry of desperation and fear rather than a cry of faith? The answer is very easy. Read the next verse. Look at verse 11. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken his way to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? They did not believe God, nor did they believe Moses. They had no faith.

[John Weaver] They were afraid to fight. But I want you to notice something. They were certainly not afraid to criticize God or Moses. Isn't that interesting? When men fear men, they're not afraid to criticize God or His preacher. Let me give you a quote from John Calvin. It's very interesting. He said this, Although there is an appearance of two contrary facts being here reported, number one, that they cried out to the Lord, and number two, that they mutinied against His minister, Yet we may easily gather that this cry neither arose from faith nor from serious and well-ordered affections, but it was extorted by a confused impulse, since the natural sense impels all men in their adversity promiscuously to offer their prayers to God, although they neither embrace His mercy nor rely upon His power." So what did Calvin just say? It is only natural for men when they see themselves in a very serious situation to cry out to God for help when they neither really trust Him nor believe Him. They were cowards. They were afraid to fight.

[John Weaver] They were afraid to believe the Lord. They were afraid to trust Him. They were afraid to believe His promises. It must be an awful, awful thing to all of a sudden realize how impotent, how helpless, how weak you really are and you see your enemy advancing in power and strength and you have nowhere to turn and no one in whom to trust. Sight, situations and circumstances and looking without faith will make cowards out of everyone. If you and I are to ever conquer, we must learn to be children of faith.

[John Weaver] You know what the Bible says in Daniel 11 in verse 32, the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. The people that know their God, the little word no refers to an intimate personal relationship and intimate personal knowledge. that has been acquired through trust and teaching. You know, ancient Israel was just like modern day Christendom. They had the teaching, but they didn't listen, nor did they believe.

[John Weaver] And consequently, when they got in a tight their cowardice was revealed. Where were their courage, their faith, and their fortitude? Why did not these Israelites lift up their eyes and say, it's better to die on the field of honor than to die in Egypt as slaves? Why did they not say, it's better to live as God's free men here in the wilderness than the Sir Pharaoh and the brick kills and the sweatshops in Egypt. But they didn't say that.

[John Weaver] They said none of those things. You know why? Because they were cowards. They were afraid to fight for their lives, for their families, for their freedoms. Slaves are fearful beings. And those who possess a slave mentality are always in fear. And their fear is furthered by man. What? The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29 and verse 25, the fear of man bring you the snare. But whoso put his trust in the Lord shall be safe. The more you fear man, the more you are ensnared by the fear of man. Thankfully, in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 1 in verse 7, the Bible tells us, For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. So if you and I are afraid, mark it down, it didn't come from God. It had to come from sin, or from self, or from some other source. For God does not give us a spirit of fear. And the very fact that men are afraid shows that they're ensnared in bondage and in slavery.

[John Weaver] To the extent that we are cowards, to the extent that we're fearful and afraid and unbelieving, to that extent, we will always express a slave mentality. Secondly, I want you to look in verse 11, because a slave mentality also expresses itself in compromise. Notice verse 11, and they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Compromise is a word that is on the lips of every politician, usually every bureaucrat, and businessman, and unhappily It is also on the lips of the average professing Christian. We have forgotten principles. We have forgotten truth. And we have forgotten that there are some things that are worth fighting for and worth dying for.

[John Weaver] I just got a message yesterday. Someone sent me a little simple statement. It said this, compromise is defeat on installments. I want you to look at this situation. Here's this whole body of people, probably two million at a minimum, and they taunt Moses with a very bitter taunt. When they lift up their eyes and they see the Egyptians behind them and the sea in front of them and the wilderness on each side of them, they said, what's wrong with you? Was it because there was not enough room in Egypt to bury all of us that you had to bring us out here in this wilderness? We could have stayed in Egypt.

[John Weaver] We would have been more comfortable there. And we would not be experiencing all this fear and this bitterness that we're experiencing now if it had not been for you. You just brought us out here so that we could be buried in this stupid wilderness. I want you to note what they're doing. Here's what they're saying. They're taunting Moses as if God and Moses were both accountable to them. They were boastful, they were petulant, and they were indeed reproaching Moses and God for not listening to them. They were smarter than God. They were smarter than Moses. And had God and Moses listened to them, surely things could have been worked out. Surely there would have been a compromise that could have been acceptable to them and to Pharaoh as well. In fact, you've got to remember, Pharaoh offered them three compromises. When they kept coming to Pharaoh, And Moses kept saying, thus said the Lord, let my people go.

[John Weaver] At first, of course, he refused. And then God began sending those plagues. And finally, the first compromise is found in Exodus 8 and verse 25. When he told the children of Israel, all right, all right, I've sinned. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to let you sacrifice in the land. Just don't go far away. Don't go out of the land. Moses said, no, sir. No, no. God's told us where to go.

[John Weaver] And moreover, we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians. No, no, no. We're not going to do that. The second compromise came in Exodus chapter 10, verse 11, when Pharaoh said, all right, all right, I've sinned again. I've had enough of these plagues. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I want to let all you men go out of the country and sacrifice, but your wives and your children have to stay here. Moses says, no, that's not going to happen. No, we're not going to do that. When we leave, we're taking our wives and our children with us. Finally, here's the third compromise in Exodus chapter 10 and verse 24, when Pharaoh said, all right, all of you may go, but your cattle has to stay. Children of Israel, through Moses said, no, no. When we leave, everything is going with us. Now, I want you to note something. It was Moses who had rejected all three of the compromises. And now the children of Israel are taunting Moses and they're saying, you just brought us out here to die.

[John Weaver] You brought us out here because there's not enough graves in Egypt. We could be back in Egypt enjoying ourselves. if you had not been so stubborn and hard-headed and so principled. But no, you brought us out here to die. Besides, listen to this, what kind of God would bring you out in the wilderness to suffer to perish? Either God didn't love them enough or God didn't have wisdom enough or foresight enough to know what was going to happen.

[John Weaver] They believed that they should take care of themselves. They could work things out. And the way they were going to work things out, here is their remedy. We'll return to Egypt. What? Oh. Turn over to Numbers chapter 14. Look in Numbers chapter 14. And let's begin reading there with verse 3. Numbers 14 verse 3. Here's the remedy. Look at what they say. Numbers 14 verse 3. They ask.

[John Weaver] And wherefore hath the Lord brought us out unto this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return unto Egypt? And they said one to another, let us make a captain and let us return unto Egypt. Hey, we don't have to die out here. We can go back home. And I want to tell you something else.

[John Weaver] This, this just kind of blows my mind. The children of Israel falsely believed that they were also better provided for in Egypt than in the wilderness. What? Don't you remember that God gave them manna? By the way, the word manna just simply means, what is it? They didn't know what it was. That's what the word means. But God gave them the perfect food that would nourish them and sustain them.

[John Weaver] And if you look back in your Bibles to Numbers 11 and verse 5, look what these wicked, rebellious, faithless people say to Moses. We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, and now our soul is dried away. There's nothing at all before us. besides this manna before our eyes." What? Oh, I remember those leeks and those garlics. Oh, boy, that was delicious. Eating raw onions out of the field. Well, we'd rather have the leeks and the garlics and everything that stink rather than the manna that God has provided for us. What kind of God would bring us out here and feed us this stupid bread? That was their attitude.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something, folks. The truth of the matter is this. If we compromise, we can have a lot of things. I want you to think about that. Do you realize If I wanted to cut corners, if I wanted to compromise, I could have a huge church building with hundreds of people. I would never ever have to study another day the rest of my life. Listen folks, I've got more messages that you can shake a stick at and all I have to do is take one message and cut it down into about thirds or one quarter and water it down. One message would last me a month in the average church. Do you understand that? And I could say, look at what I've got. I've got a church and I've got 500 folks in it. You know, to get people, all you have to do is trim the message and give a little bit of entertainment. That's it. Make people feel good about themselves. What have you got when you do that? I'd rather preach to 10 people that genuinely want the Word of God than 10,000 who could care less about it.

[John Weaver] If you look in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4, I want to just show you. You can get a lot of things by compromising. Look at Matthew chapter 4. Beginning there, verse 8. Here our Lord is being tempted of the devil. Here He's being offered a compromise. Matthew chapter 4, verse 8. Watch carefully. Again, the devil taketh them up to an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and said unto them, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. What did Satan offer him? All the kingdoms of the world.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. What does Jesus Christ now have? He now has all the kingdoms of the world. What Satan is saying is this. You just worship me. I'll give you this and you don't have to die. You don't have to suffer. You don't have to go through the cross. No, no, no. You just worship me. I'll give you everything. I got news for you folks. We may compromise and get everything the world has to offer. But we would never have everything that God has to offer. We would never have His blessings. We would never have His power upon us. And we would never be in a position where we could truly, genuinely honor and glorify Him. You see, the truth of the matter is this, folks. Compromise is only for those individuals who do not want the perfect and blessed will of God in their lives. Compromise will be for people who want things instead of truth and righteousness and liberty and freedom.

[John Weaver] Do you know why the children of Israel were griping and grumbling and complaining and taunting Moses? So, I'll tell you why. Because they did not understand what God had done for them. Here it is. Don't turn there. Let me just read it. Psalm 106 verse 7. Listen to what the scripture says. David wrote, Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies, but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea. What? Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They didn't understand anything about God or God's salvation. They did not remember His mercies, everything that He'd done. And so they taunted and provoked Him and wanted to compromise. The reason we have a slave mentality today is we don't understand the wonders and the work of God. And we don't really consider His mercies and His compassions.

[John Weaver] I've thought of this a hundred times. I'm 66 years old. I'm not as old as some of you. But I'm going to tell you something. The only reason I'm alive today is because of God's mercies and God's compassions. And I've already lived longer than a whole lot of other people have lived. And we need to stop and consider, Lord, if it's not for You, we will have nothing, we are nothing, we can do nothing. Everything we have, everything we are, is only because of God's mercies.

[John Weaver] And the slave mentality is ready to compromise all of that.

[John Weaver] Just stop and think. A slave mentality expresses itself in cowardice, in compromise. And thirdly, I want you to look. The slave mentality expresses itself in complacency. Oh, look in verse 12. Look what the children of Israel said. Exodus 14 verse 12. Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt saying, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than we should time the wilderness. I want you to note what they said. Let us alone.

[John Weaver] Slaves are satisfied in their serfdom and in their slavery. They have no desire to be upset, to be disturbed. or to have the boat rocked. They're satisfied with the status quo. Listen to what they said, let us alone. Slaves do not want to be bothered with the facts. They don't want to be bothered with the truth. They're not concerned about those things. And the children of Israel, by the way, when they were in Egypt, were even upset with the fact that Moses was attempting to deliver them. What? Yes.

[John Weaver] Look back in Exodus chapter 5 and verse 21. Of course, Pharaoh has made it a little rougher for them because of Moses. And in Exodus chapter 5 and verse 21, look what the elders of Israel say to Moses as they come out of the presence of Pharaoh. Pharaoh's already told them now they're going to make the same number of bricks and yet without straw, they'll have to get the straw themselves. Verse 21, Exodus chapter 5. In fact, let's read verse 20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh. And they said unto him, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made our savor to be a horde in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants to put a sword in their hand and slay us." What, Moses? What are you doing? You said you were going to come down here and deliver us. All you've done is made things worse. That's all.

[John Weaver] Yeah, you haven't delivered us. Quit talking about that stuff. In fact, look in your Bibles now to Exodus chapter 6. Here's an interesting thing. Exodus chapter 6 and verse 9. Notice, Exodus 6 and verse 9. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel, and they hearken not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage. Now wait a minute. They said to Moses, did we not say unto you, let us alone? Let us alone is the cry of all the slaves.

[John Weaver] We do not wish to be free. Freedom involves responsibilities. It involves thinking. It involves planning. It involves work. It involves taking care of oneself and one's family. Freedom involves preparation, education, and a willingness to fight. They said, let us alone.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to look at this. I'm fixing to tie these two thoughts together for you. But I want you to notice what they said in Exodus 14. Go back over there. This is absolutely amazing. Exodus 14 verse 12. Now watch. Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt? Here's what we told you Moses. Let us alone watch that we may serve the Egyptians. What? One minute in Exodus chapter 6 and verse 9, they're groaning and screaming and crying because of the cruel bondage and oppression, and the next minute they're saying, we've got it good here Moses, just let us alone. Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians.

[John Weaver] In other words, we're content. We're willing to stay here and be slaves to these Egyptians. They did not want to be the slave of the One True and the Living God. They did not want to serve Him. They wanted to serve the Egyptians. Do you understand that according to the New Testament, we're to be God's free men? He tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, now listen to this, watch. No, you're not. You're not your own. You're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are His. And in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 23, he says again, You are bought with a price. Be not ye the servants or the slaves of men. How do we become the slaves of men? I want you to turn over in your Bibles Deuteronomy 28.

[John Weaver] I'm going to let the Bible answer that for you. I want to show you. Deuteronomy 28. And let's begin reading there with verse 43. Deuteronomy 28 and verse 43. Look what the scripture says. Deuteronomy 28 verse 43. This is part of the curses of God's law when we disobey that law. So watch what he said, Deuteronomy 28 in verse 43. The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high, and thou shalt come down very low. Deuteronomy 28. Yeah, that's it. That's it. The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high, and thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee, thou shalt not lend to him. He shall be the head, thou shalt be the tail. Watch, moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee till thou be destroyed. Why?

[John Weaver] Because thou hearkenedest not unto the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee, and they shall be upon thee for a sign, and for a wonder, and upon thy seed forever. Watch, Because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things, therefore thou shalt serve thine enemy, which the Lord shall send against thee." What? What did God say? You can either serve me or you can serve your enemy. I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather be the slave of God than the slave of man. You know, this is just absolutely astounding to me.

[John Weaver] I want you to understand, this is from the mouths of God's covenant people in the Old Testament. They said, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians. That blows my mind. Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? What? Servitude and slavery and suffering were preferred over living and dying as free men. Are you listening to me? This is exactly what is happening in America today. Slavery and serfdom and suffering is preferred over living and dying as free men.

[John Weaver] It is time to turn off the TV set. It's time to get up from the couch and forget the controlled media, forget the newspapers and magazines, and begin to search and study for yourself. It's time to get past football and baseball and every other sport of its kind. If we do not get a little backbone and intestinal fortitude and just plain old everyday country guts, we will continue to serve the Egyptians. They will use us.

[John Weaver] pillage us, steal from us, break us, and destroy us. It's better to live and die as free men than to live as slaves. And I don't agree with better rid than dead. It's better dead and free than suffering and living under Marxist dictatorship. There's a poem, I'm only going to quote just a few stanzas of it. It's from Revels. The author is anonymous. Just one paragraph. For although life is dear, Yet free men born and free men bred, we'd rather live as free men dead than to live in slavish fear.

[John Weaver] Then call us rebels if you will. We glory in the name for bending under unjust laws and swearing faith to an unjust cause. We counter greater shame. It's time to shake off the slave mentality of complacency. There's one last point. A slave mentality always expresses itself not only in cowardice and complacency. Yeah. It also expresses itself in convenience. If you go back to our text in Exodus chapter 14, And look at verses 10 through 12 again.

[John Weaver] Let me just read them. I want you to look at this. Exodus 14, verse 10. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were so afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord, and they cried unto Moses. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in this wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than we should die in the wilderness."

[John Weaver] The whole passage reeks of a lust and desire for convenience. Their cries, their complaints, and their anguish, listen carefully, was all brought about by their inconvenience. Are you listening? It was not convenient to leave Egypt. It was not convenient to travel in the wilderness. It was not convenient to do without food they were used to eating. It was not convenient to travel and live by faith. It was not convenient to be temporarily deprived and to suffer. It was not convenient to be boxed in and faced with overwhelming odds. It was not convenient to trust in the Lord, nor in Moses. The whole cry of Israel is based upon their inconvenience. Surely, surely they thought God could have discovered and found a convenient way to deliver them out of Egypt. Why did they have to suffer?

[John Weaver] Why did they have to fight? Why did they have to go through all of this? Surely God knew how upsetting this whole episode was for them. Surely He knew how inconvenient it was. What's wrong with God? How could such a loving God be so inconsiderate? Wow! Whining, complaining, belly aching and groaning had to be stopped. Look in verse 14. I love this. Verse 14. Here's what Moses said. Let's read verse 13. Moses said unto the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. Let me paraphrase this. Here's what Moses said to the children of Israel.

[John Weaver] You shall contribute nothing to the victory by your words or by your deeds. So, if you will excuse me for saying this, just shut your whining, complaining, griping mouth and watch God do what you're afraid to do. That's basically what he said. Just shut up. Just shut up. You're not going to have to lift your little finger. You're not going to have to get your clothes dirty. God will take care of it.

[John Weaver] Now folks, I'm going to tell you, the Scripture does tell us there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes 3 and verse 7. David understood that for in Psalm 38 and verse 13 he said, But I as a deaf man Heard not, and I was a dumb man that opened not his mouth." He said, I understand there's a time to keep my mouth shut. And these people had belly ached and complained so much that Moses finally said, just hold your peace, shut your mouth.

[John Weaver] The God whom you do not trust in and whom you do not believe will deliver you again. And maybe you will listen and maybe you will learn. The problem that we're facing in this country, one of them is the monster of convenience. We do not want to be inconvenienced. We do not want an inconvenient truth. Not Al Gore's inconvenient truth, but God's inconvenient truth. We just don't want to be inconvenienced.

[John Weaver] If the average American was around in 1776, we would still be colonies of England. The average American today, if we were around, we'd still be controlled by England. There'd have been no fighting. There'd have been no resistance because it was inconvenient. Instead, our founding father said, we pledge our lives our fortunes and our sacred honor. They were willing to be inconvenienced for their children and their grandchildren and future generations. I'll tell you, I had rather be inconvenienced and live with God in the wilderness than with Pharaoh in Egypt. or Obama in Washington.

[John Weaver] It's time to cast off a slave mentality and learn to think biblically and scripturally and as free men. Now, let me point something out. By way of application, you say, but we have all these programs that our government is giving us. You have to understand folks that slave masters had much rather keep their slaves sufficiently well fed and clothed and housed and occasionally entertained in order to keep their mind and their thoughts away from their slavery and their bondage. And we can also think this way. Our slave masters want us to think of the great beyond, the paradise that awaits us in the sky.

[John Weaver] We can all look for that. What? Well, what about the injustice? What about the corruption? What about the fraud? What about the deceit? What about the dishonesty? Oh, don't worry about that. Just think about what it's going to be in the future. Why? I've got news for you folks. If all you're concerned about is the future, you will never be concerned about the present tyranny, despotism, totalitarianism, corruption, fraud, and wickedness that exists today.

[John Weaver] We have to fight a slave mentality. Why did He say, be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind? It is a fight to think biblically. It is a fight to think scripturally. No one likes to fight all the time. No one likes confrontation. No one likes to be constantly and continually arguing. But we cannot give in, and we cannot give up, and we cannot give out. And we cannot think as slaves, we must think as free men, God's free men. And what did our Lord say in Psalm 94 and verse 16?

[John Weaver] Let me just quote it. Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers? And who shall stand for me against the workers of iniquity? And then he said in Psalm 97 verse 10, you that love the Lord, hate evil. May I tell you, you cannot love God without at the same time hating everything that is contrary to Him. If you love the Lord, you will hate everything that is contrary to Him. You will hate it, you will expose it, you will fight against it, and by God's grace, you will overcome it and destroy it.

[John Weaver] How does the slave mentality express itself? It always expresses itself in cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. We want truth above all, and freedom first in Christ, and then in life above all. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We ask You to help us not to have a slave mentality, not to think in terms of cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. But help us to think, Lord, in terms of what is right and what is our responsibility and what is our duty before Thee and before man. Help us, Lord, to bow to Thy truth and bow to Thy Word and make us holy and godly. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Expressions of a Slave Mentality

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	4-6fLhnoHWQ
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-02-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 078: Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover - Volume 1 — Chapter 17
Source Timed Segments	67

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Prevalence of a Slave Mentality

Weaver introduces the concept of a slave mentality, noting that most people do not think independently and are conformed to worldly thinking, which is evidence of spiritual bondage.

Let's open our Bibles today to the book of Exodus chapter 14. The title of the message today is "Expressions of a Slave Mentality." Exodus chapter 14, and let's begin reading there with verse 10. Exodus 14, verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Exodus 14:10-12

"And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."

Have you ever noticed that most people do not think for themselves? And have you ever noticed that those who do not think independently somehow all fit into the same mold? It does not matter where you travel in America, most people think the way the news commentators, the propaganda experts, the TV and the Hollywood film directors lead them. And it's not something new; it's something that is very, very old. It is evidence of a slave mentality. Now the slave mentality expresses itself in many and varied ways. There are very few things over which slaves really genuinely concern themselves. They're really more interested in their comfort, provision, and rest than anything else. They do their work, they eat, they drink, and rest, and anything over and above that is beyond them and they do not concern themselves with it.

All they simply want to do is exist. And I submit to you that is where most Americans really are. They're just trying to exist and they really just want to exist. Years ago I preached a message on the slave mentality from the book of Judges. That message is in my second book and I'm not re-preaching that message. This message is totally, completely different from that. But it's amazing to me that as I read through the Bible so many times you find a slave mentality and always, no exceptions, that slave mentality is always condemned.

Biblical Foundation: Freedom in Christ vs. Bondage to Sin

Weaver explains that unbelievers are slaves to sin, but Christ brings liberty; true freedom is found only through regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

They were in bondage and they knew it. We're in bondage and we don't even realize it. We are equally enslaved as Israel was of old and it is evidenced by a slave mentality. Now, before someone objects and says, "But wait a minute, I don't have a slave mentality," may I remind you of Romans chapter 12 and verse 2, where the word of God says, now listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Now the word "conformed" literally means to be pressed into a mold. And in the context, it specially refers to the mold of thinking as the world thinks. So God says, "Be not conformed to this world, don't be pressed into the mold of worldly thinking, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." So anyone then who is pressed into a mold and thinks as the world is thinking as a slave thinks, because may I point out that Romans chapter 6 teaches that those who are unsaved are already slaves to sin.

That's why Romans chapter 6 talks about the domination or the dominion of sin and how we who are in Christ Jesus have been freed from the dominion of sin and we are now under dominion to the Lord Jesus Christ. So there is a slavery that exists just by virtue of the fact that people are unsaved and just by virtue of the fact that people think the way the world thinks. Now the Bible teaches us in 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 17,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:17

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

So where the Spirit is not, there is no liberty. So if the Holy Spirit then is the one who produces liberty and freedom, where He is not, there can only exist bondage and slavery. That's why in Romans 8 and verse 9, the scripture says, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." What does that mean? That means if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you do not belong to Christ. If you do not belong to Christ, then you're still under the dominion of sin, and you're lost, and you're unsaved. That's why in John 8 and verse 36, the scripture said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

And it's only after we're regenerated, only after we're converted, that we understand what real freedom really is. And that's why in Galatians 5 and verse 1, scripture says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." So Christ then has freed us. But not only is there a bondage to sin by nature and a bondage revealed by worldly conformity and worldly thinking, there's also a bondage that attends a misconception of reality. We perceive and think sometimes that we really know what freedom is and that we are free when we are hopelessly bound by the laws and the traditions of men.

First Expression: Cowardice

The Israelites' fear of the Egyptians reveals a slave mentality of cowardice; they operated by sight rather than faith, crying out in desperation without trust in God.

"And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." First, the slave mentality expresses itself in cowardice. Cowardice. Notice, if you would, what the scripture said, that these individuals were sore afraid. Why were they afraid? Now, you could say, well, some of the Israelites may have been unarmed. They may have been, but you've got to remember this, that in all probability, the Israelites outnumbered the Egyptians that were marching after them. Moreover, you could say, well, those Egyptians were disciplined military fighting men. Well, that may have been true. And Israel may have been inferior militarily speaking. But however, I taught yesterday and I demonstrated yesterday how Israel was organized as a militia and they marched out of Egypt as a militia.

If you would look in Exodus chapter 13 and verse 18 right there. Exodus 13 verse 18:

Scripture Reading — Exodus 13:18

"But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt."

Now the word "harnessed" is a very interesting word. It is translated as "armed" twice in our Bibles. It is translated as "armed men" once in our Bibles. And it refers to the fact that Israel went up out of Egypt in battle array in ranks of five.

So they were marching out as a militia. They were not defenseless. They were not helpless. Moreover, you've got to remember this, the Lord had already revealed to Moses exactly what he was going to do to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and how that God would get him honor from the destruction of Pharaoh and his army. Moreover, you've got to remember this, that Israel had just been miraculously delivered out of Egypt by the hand of the Lord. The blood had been applied and they were now being led by the pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. You would think that under such a situation and such circumstances, the children of Israel having been miraculously delivered and miraculously led, they would have been saying, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" But they weren't saying that. Instead of lifting up their faith, look what the scripture says, "And they lifted up their eyes."

What they saw terrified them. What they looked at was very disconcerting. Why? They were not operating in the realm of faith, they were operating in the realm of sight. And the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 7 says as Christians, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:7

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

You see, sight always looks at situations. It looks at circumstances. It looks at fleshly observations. Faith always looks to the Lord and to His Word and to His power and to His promises. Since the Israelites were not looking by faith, here's what they saw.

The sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, and being walled in by the wilderness. They basically saw no escape. So to the natural eye, looking by sight, escape was impossible. Captivity or death, absolutely certain. But don't you look back at verse 10 again. Here's another interesting thought. "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid." Now look! "And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." Wow! You know, David said in Psalm 3 and verse 4, "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill."

But may I point something out? There is a vast difference between a cry of faith and a cry of desperation and fear. The children of Israel here did not cry out in faith. They cried out in fear. Their crying out was only from their troubles, only from their observations, only from what they saw. It was only a result of their despair and their upcoming defeat. They cried to the Lord, but they had absolutely no confidence in Him.

They did not trust in Him. They did not believe in His help, notwithstanding all the previous manifestations of His mercy and His grace that had been given to them. How do we know that their cry was a cry of desperation and fear rather than a cry of faith? The answer is very easy. Read the next verse. Look at verse 11. "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?" They did not believe God, nor did they believe Moses. They had no faith.

They were afraid to fight. But I want you to notice something. They were certainly not afraid to criticize God or Moses. Isn't that interesting? When men fear men, they're not afraid to criticize God or His preacher. Let me give you a quote from John Calvin. It's very interesting. He said this, "Although there is an appearance of two contrary facts being here reported, number one, that they cried out to the Lord, and number two, that they mutinied against His minister, yet we may easily gather that this cry neither arose from faith nor from serious and well-ordered affections, but it was extorted by a confused impulse, since the natural sense impels all men in their adversity promiscuously to offer their prayers to God, although they neither embrace His mercy nor rely upon His power." So what did Calvin just say? It is only natural for men when they see themselves in a very serious situation to cry out to God for help when they neither really trust Him nor believe Him. They were cowards. They were afraid to fight.

They were afraid to believe the Lord. They were afraid to trust Him. They were afraid to believe His promises. It must be an awful, awful thing to all of a sudden realize how impotent, how helpless, how weak you really are and you see your enemy advancing in power and strength and you have nowhere to turn and no one in whom to trust. Sight, situations and circumstances and looking without faith will make cowards out of everyone. If you and I are to ever conquer, we must learn to be children of faith. You know what the Bible says in Daniel 11 in verse 32,

Scripture Reading — Daniel 11:32

"The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."

The people that know their God, the little word "know" refers to an intimate personal relationship and intimate personal knowledge that has been acquired through trust and teaching. You know, ancient Israel was just like modern day Christendom. They had the teaching, but they didn't listen, nor did they believe.

And consequently, when they got in a tight their cowardice was revealed. Where were their courage, their faith, and their fortitude? Why did not these Israelites lift up their eyes and say, "It's better to die on the field of honor than to die in Egypt as slaves"? Why did they not say, "It's better to live as God's free men here in the wilderness than to serve Pharaoh and the brick kilns and the sweatshops in Egypt"? But they didn't say that. They said none of those things. You know why? Because they were cowards. They were afraid to fight for their lives, for their families, for their freedoms. Slaves are fearful beings. And those who possess a slave mentality are always in fear. And their fear is furthered by man. What? The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29 and verse 25,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 29:25

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."

The more you fear man, the more you are ensnared by the fear of man. Thankfully, in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 1 in verse 7, the Bible tells us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." So if you and I are afraid, mark it down, it didn't come from God. It had to come from sin, or from self, or from some other source. For God does not give us a spirit of fear. And the very fact that men are afraid shows that they're ensnared in bondage and in slavery.

Second Expression: Compromise

The Israelites taunted Moses and desired to return to Egypt, rejecting God's deliverance; compromise offers worldly gain but forfeits God's blessings and perfect will.

To the extent that we are cowards, to the extent that we're fearful and afraid and unbelieving, to that extent, we will always express a slave mentality. Secondly, I want you to look in verse 11, because a slave mentality also expresses itself in compromise. Notice verse 11, "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?" Compromise is a word that is on the lips of every politician, usually every bureaucrat, and businessman, and unhappily it is also on the lips of the average professing Christian. We have forgotten principles. We have forgotten truth. And we have forgotten that there are some things that are worth fighting for and worth dying for.

I just got a message yesterday. Someone sent me a little simple statement. It said this, "Compromise is defeat on installments." I want you to look at this situation. Here's this whole body of people, probably two million at a minimum, and they taunt Moses with a very bitter taunt. When they lift up their eyes and they see the Egyptians behind them and the sea in front of them and the wilderness on each side of them, they said, "What's wrong with you? Was it because there was not enough room in Egypt to bury all of us that you had to bring us out here in this wilderness? We could have stayed in Egypt.

We would have been more comfortable there. And we would not be experiencing all this fear and this bitterness that we're experiencing now if it had not been for you. You just brought us out here so that we could be buried in this stupid wilderness." I want you to note what they're doing. Here's what they're saying. They're taunting Moses as if God and Moses were both accountable to them. They were boastful, they were petulant, and they were indeed reproaching Moses and God for not listening to them. They were smarter than God. They were smarter than Moses. And had God and Moses listened to them, surely things could have been worked out. Surely there would have been a compromise that could have been acceptable to them and to Pharaoh as well. In fact, you've got to remember, Pharaoh offered them three compromises. When they kept coming to Pharaoh, and Moses kept saying, "Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 8:25

At first, of course, he refused. And then God began sending those plagues. And finally, the first compromise is found in Exodus 8 and verse 25. When he told the children of Israel, "All right, all right, I've sinned. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to let you sacrifice in the land. Just don't go far away. Don't go out of the land." Moses said, "No, sir. No, no. God's told us where to go."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 10:11

And moreover, we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians. No, no, no. We're not going to do that. The second compromise came in Exodus chapter 10, verse 11, when Pharaoh said, "All right, all right, I've sinned again. I've had enough of these plagues. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I want to let all you men go out of the country and sacrifice, but your wives and your children have to stay here." Moses says, "No, that's not going to happen. No, we're not going to do that. When we leave, we're taking our wives and our children with us." Finally, here's the third compromise in Exodus chapter 10 and verse 24, when Pharaoh said, "All right, all of you may go, but your cattle has to stay." Children of Israel, through Moses said, "No, no. When we leave, everything is going with us." Now, I want you to note something. It was Moses who had rejected all three of the compromises. And now the children of Israel are taunting Moses and they're saying, "You just brought us out here to die."

"You brought us out here because there's not enough graves in Egypt. We could be back in Egypt enjoying ourselves if you had not been so stubborn and hard-headed and so principled. But no, you brought us out here to die. Besides, listen to this, what kind of God would bring you out in the wilderness to suffer to perish?" Either God didn't love them enough or God didn't have wisdom enough or foresight enough to know what was going to happen. They believed that they should take care of themselves. They could work things out. And the way they were going to work things out, here is their remedy. We'll return to Egypt. What? Oh. Turn over to Numbers chapter 14. Look in Numbers chapter 14. And let's begin reading there with verse 3. Numbers 14 verse 3. Here's the remedy. Look at what they say. Numbers 14 verse 3. They ask.

"And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" And they said one to another, "Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." Hey, we don't have to die out here. We can go back home. And I want to tell you something else. This just kind of blows my mind. The children of Israel falsely believed that they were also better provided for in Egypt than in the wilderness. What? Don't you remember that God gave them manna? By the way, the word "manna" just simply means, "What is it?" They didn't know what it was. That's what the word means. But God gave them the perfect food that would nourish them and sustain them.

And if you look back in your Bibles to Numbers 11 and verse 5, look what these wicked, rebellious, faithless people say to Moses.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 11:5

"We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

What? Oh, I remember those leeks and those garlics. Oh, boy, that was delicious. Eating raw onions out of the field. Well, we'd rather have the leeks and the garlics and everything that stink rather than the manna that God has provided for us. What kind of God would bring us out here and feed us this stupid bread? That was their attitude.

Let me tell you something, folks. The truth of the matter is this. If we compromise, we can have a lot of things. I want you to think about that. Do you realize if I wanted to cut corners, if I wanted to compromise, I could have a huge church building with hundreds of people. I would never ever have to study another day the rest of my life. Listen folks, I've got more messages than you can shake a stick at and all I have to do is take one message and cut it down into about thirds or one quarter and water it down. One message would last me a month in the average church. Do you understand that? And I could say, "Look at what I've got. I've got a church and I've got 500 folks in it." You know, to get people, all you have to do is trim the message and give a little bit of entertainment. That's it. Make people feel good about themselves. What have you got when you do that? I'd rather preach to 10 people that genuinely want the Word of God than 10,000 who could care less about it.

If you look in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4, I want to just show you. You can get a lot of things by compromising. Look at Matthew chapter 4. Beginning there, verse 8. Here our Lord is being tempted of the devil. Here He's being offered a compromise. Matthew chapter 4, verse 8. Watch carefully.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 4:8-10

"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

What did Satan offer him? All the kingdoms of the world.

Let me ask you a question. What does Jesus Christ now have? He now has all the kingdoms of the world. What Satan is saying is this. You just worship me. I'll give you this and you don't have to die. You don't have to suffer. You don't have to go through the cross. No, no, no. You just worship me. I'll give you everything. I got news for you folks. We may compromise and get everything the world has to offer. But we would never have everything that God has to offer. We would never have His blessings. We would never have His power upon us. And we would never be in a position where we could truly, genuinely honor and glorify Him. You see, the truth of the matter is this, folks. Compromise is only for those individuals who do not want the perfect and blessed will of God in their lives. Compromise will be for people who want things instead of truth and righteousness and liberty and freedom.

Do you know why the children of Israel were griping and grumbling and complaining and taunting Moses? So, I'll tell you why. Because they did not understand what God had done for them. Here it is. Don't turn there. Let me just read it. Psalm 106 verse 7. Listen to what the scripture says. David wrote,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:7

"Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea."

What? Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They didn't understand anything about God or God's salvation. They did not remember His mercies, everything that He'd done. And so they taunted and provoked Him and wanted to compromise. The reason we have a slave mentality today is we don't understand the wonders and the work of God. And we don't really consider His mercies and His compassions.

I've thought of this a hundred times. I'm 66 years old. I'm not as old as some of you. But I'm going to tell you something. The only reason I'm alive today is because of God's mercies and God's compassions. And I've already lived longer than a whole lot of other people have lived. And we need to stop and consider, Lord, if it's not for You, we will have nothing, we are nothing, we can do nothing. Everything we have, everything we are, is only because of God's mercies.

Third Expression: Complacency

The Israelites preferred slavery in Egypt over the responsibilities of freedom, saying 'Let us alone'; this complacency mirrors modern contentment with servitude.

Just stop and think. A slave mentality expresses itself in cowardice, in compromise. And thirdly, I want you to look. The slave mentality expresses itself in complacency. Oh, look in verse 12. Look what the children of Israel said. Exodus 14 verse 12. "Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." I want you to note what they said. "Let us alone."

Slaves are satisfied in their serfdom and in their slavery. They have no desire to be upset, to be disturbed, or to have the boat rocked. They're satisfied with the status quo. Listen to what they said, "Let us alone." Slaves do not want to be bothered with the facts. They don't want to be bothered with the truth. They're not concerned about those things. And the children of Israel, by the way, when they were in Egypt, were even upset with the fact that Moses was attempting to deliver them. What? Yes.

Look back in Exodus chapter 5 and verse 21. Of course, Pharaoh has made it a little rougher for them because of Moses. And in Exodus chapter 5 and verse 21, look what the elders of Israel say to Moses as they come out of the presence of Pharaoh. Pharaoh's already told them now they're going to make the same number of bricks and yet without straw, they'll have to get the straw themselves. Verse 21, Exodus chapter 5. In fact, let's read verse 20. "And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us." What, Moses? What are you doing? You said you were going to come down here and deliver us. All you've done is made things worse. That's all.

Yeah, you haven't delivered us. Quit talking about that stuff. In fact, look in your Bibles now to Exodus chapter 6. Here's an interesting thing. Exodus chapter 6 and verse 9. Notice, Exodus 6 and verse 9. "And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage." Now wait a minute. They said to Moses, "Did we not say unto you, Let us alone?" "Let us alone" is the cry of all the slaves.

We do not wish to be free. Freedom involves responsibilities. It involves thinking. It involves planning. It involves work. It involves taking care of oneself and one's family. Freedom involves preparation, education, and a willingness to fight. They said, "Let us alone."

Now I want you to look at this. I'm fixing to tie these two thoughts together for you. But I want you to notice what they said in Exodus 14. Go back over there. This is absolutely amazing. Exodus 14 verse 12. Now watch. "Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt?" Here's what we told you Moses. "Let us alone"—watch—"that we may serve the Egyptians." What? One minute in Exodus chapter 6 and verse 9, they're groaning and screaming and crying because of the cruel bondage and oppression, and the next minute they're saying, "We've got it good here Moses, just let us alone. Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians."

In other words, we're content. We're willing to stay here and be slaves to these Egyptians. They did not want to be the slave of the One True and the Living God. They did not want to serve Him. They wanted to serve the Egyptians. Do you understand that according to the New Testament, we're to be God's free men? He tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, now listen to this, watch. "No, you're not. You're not your own. You're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are His." And in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 23, he says again, "You are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." How do we become the slaves of men? I want you to turn over in your Bibles Deuteronomy 28.

I'm going to let the Bible answer that for you. I want to show you. Deuteronomy 28. And let's begin reading there with verse 43. Deuteronomy 28 and verse 43. Look what the scripture says. Deuteronomy 28 verse 43. This is part of the curses of God's law when we disobey that law. So watch what he said, Deuteronomy 28 in verse 43. "The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail." Watch, "Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed." Why?

"Because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee." What? What did God say? You can either serve me or you can serve your enemy. I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather be the slave of God than the slave of man. You know, this is just absolutely astounding to me. I want you to understand, this is from the mouths of God's covenant people in the Old Testament. They said, "Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians." That blows my mind. "Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians"? What? Servitude and slavery and suffering were preferred over living and dying as free men. Are you listening to me? This is exactly what is happening in America today. Slavery and serfdom and suffering is preferred over living and dying as free men.

It is time to turn off the TV set. It's time to get up from the couch and forget the controlled media, forget the newspapers and magazines, and begin to search and study for yourself. It's time to get past football and baseball and every other sport of its kind. If we do not get a little backbone and intestinal fortitude and just plain old everyday country guts, we will continue to serve the Egyptians. They will use us. pillage us, steal from us, break us, and destroy us. It's better to live and die as free men than to live as slaves. And I don't agree with "better red than dead." It's better dead and free than suffering and living under Marxist dictatorship. There's a poem, I'm only going to quote just a few stanzas of it. It's from "Revels." The author is anonymous. Just one paragraph. "For although life is dear, Yet free men born and free men bred, we'd rather live as free men dead than to live in slavish fear."

"Then call us rebels if you will. We glory in the name for bending under unjust laws and swearing faith to an unjust cause. We count it greater shame." It's time to shake off the slave mentality of complacency. There's one last point. A slave mentality always expresses itself not only in cowardice and complacency. Yeah. It also expresses itself in convenience. If you go back to our text in Exodus chapter 14, and look at verses 10 through 12 again.

Let me just read them. I want you to look at this. Exodus 14, verse 10. "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."

Fourth Expression: Convenience

The Israelites' complaints stemmed from inconvenience; they wanted an easy deliverance. Moses commanded them to be silent and watch God fight for them.

The whole passage reeks of a lust and desire for convenience. Their cries, their complaints, and their anguish, listen carefully, was all brought about by their inconvenience. Are you listening? It was not convenient to leave Egypt. It was not convenient to travel in the wilderness. It was not convenient to do without food they were used to eating. It was not convenient to travel and live by faith. It was not convenient to be temporarily deprived and to suffer. It was not convenient to be boxed in and faced with overwhelming odds. It was not convenient to trust in the Lord, nor in Moses. The whole cry of Israel is based upon their inconvenience. Surely, surely they thought God could have discovered and found a convenient way to deliver them out of Egypt. Why did they have to suffer?

Why did they have to fight? Why did they have to go through all of this? Surely God knew how upsetting this whole episode was for them. Surely He knew how inconvenient it was. What's wrong with God? How could such a loving God be so inconsiderate? Wow! Whining, complaining, bellyaching and groaning had to be stopped. Look in verse 14. I love this. Verse 14. Here's what Moses said. Let's read verse 13. "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Let me paraphrase this. Here's what Moses said to the children of Israel.

"You shall contribute nothing to the victory by your words or by your deeds. So, if you will excuse me for saying this, just shut your whining, complaining, griping mouth and watch God do what you're afraid to do." That's basically what he said. Just shut up. Just shut up. You're not going to have to lift your little finger. You're not going to have to get your clothes dirty. God will take care of it.

Now folks, I'm going to tell you, the Scripture does tell us there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes 3 and verse 7. David understood that for in Psalm 38 and verse 13 he said, "But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth." He said, "I understand there's a time to keep my mouth shut." And these people had bellyached and complained so much that Moses finally said, "Just hold your peace, shut your mouth." The God whom you do not trust in and whom you do not believe will deliver you again. And maybe you will listen and maybe you will learn. The problem that we're facing in this country, one of them is the monster of convenience. We do not want to be inconvenienced. We do not want an inconvenient truth. Not Al Gore's inconvenient truth, but God's inconvenient truth. We just don't want to be inconvenienced.

Application: Rejecting the Slave Mentality Today

Weaver applies the message to modern America, urging believers to think biblically, hate evil, and fight against tyranny and corruption rather than seeking comfort.

If the average American was around in 1776, we would still be colonies of England. The average American today, if we were around, we'd still be controlled by England. There'd have been no fighting. There'd have been no resistance because it was inconvenient. Instead, our founding fathers said, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." They were willing to be inconvenienced for their children and their grandchildren and future generations. I'll tell you, I had rather be inconvenienced and live with God in the wilderness than with Pharaoh in Egypt, or Obama in Washington. It's time to cast off a slave mentality and learn to think biblically and scripturally and as free men. Now, let me point something out. By way of application, you say, "But we have all these programs that our government is giving us." You have to understand folks that slave masters had much rather keep their slaves sufficiently well fed and clothed and housed and occasionally entertained in order to keep their mind and their thoughts away from their slavery and their bondage. And we can also think this way. Our slave masters want us to think of the great beyond, the paradise that awaits us in the sky.

We can all look for that. What? Well, what about the injustice? What about the corruption? What about the fraud? What about the deceit? What about the dishonesty? Oh, don't worry about that. Just think about what it's going to be in the future. Why? I've got news for you folks. If all you're concerned about is the future, you will never be concerned about the present tyranny, despotism, totalitarianism, corruption, fraud, and wickedness that exists today.

We have to fight a slave mentality. Why did He say, "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"? It is a fight to think biblically. It is a fight to think scripturally. No one likes to fight all the time. No one likes confrontation. No one likes to be constantly and continually arguing. But we cannot give in, and we cannot give up, and we cannot give out. And we cannot think as slaves, we must think as free men, God's free men. And what did our Lord say in Psalm 94 and verse 16?

Let me just quote it. "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" And then he said in Psalm 97 verse 10, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." May I tell you, you cannot love God without at the same time hating everything that is contrary to Him. If you love the Lord, you will hate everything that is contrary to Him. You will hate it, you will expose it, you will fight against it, and by God's grace, you will overcome it and destroy it. How does the slave mentality express itself? It always expresses itself in cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. We want truth above all, and freedom first in Christ, and then in life above all. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We ask You to help us not to have a slave mentality, not to think in terms of cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. But help us to think, Lord, in terms of what is right and what is our responsibility and what is our duty before Thee and before man. Help us, Lord, to bow to Thy truth and bow to Thy Word and make us holy and godly. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Spiritual Bondage and Freedom

Summary: True freedom is found only in Christ; without the Spirit, people are slaves to sin and worldly thinking.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 6, 2 Corinthians 3:17, and John 8:36 to show that liberty comes through Christ, while those without the Spirit remain in bondage.

Conformity to Worldly Thinking

Summary: A slave mentality is evidenced by being pressed into the mold of worldly thinking rather than being transformed by God's Word.

Evidence: Weaver references Romans 12:2, explaining that 'conformed' means being pressed into a mold, and contrasts it with the renewing of the mind.

Fear vs. Faith

Summary: Cowardice is a mark of a slave mentality; believers are called to walk by faith, not by sight, and God has not given a spirit of fear.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts the Israelites' fear with the call to faith in 2 Corinthians 5:7 and 2 Timothy 1:7, noting their cry was from desperation, not trust.

The Danger of Compromise

Summary: Compromise offers temporary gain but leads to spiritual loss; it is defeat on installments and rejects God's perfect will.

Evidence: Weaver uses Pharaoh's three compromises and Satan's temptation of Christ to illustrate that compromise avoids suffering but forfeits God's blessings.

Complacency in Servitude

Summary: Slaves are content with the status quo and resist deliverance because freedom requires responsibility and effort.

Evidence: The Israelites said 'Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians,' preferring slavery to the challenges of freedom.

The Idol of Convenience

Summary: A slave mentality prioritizes comfort and convenience over truth and duty, leading to complaints against God's ways.

Evidence: Weaver points out that the Israelites' cries were rooted in inconvenience, and Moses told them to be silent and trust God's deliverance.

Key Arguments

Most people exhibit a slave mentality by not thinking independently.

Summary: Weaver argues that the majority conform to media and cultural narratives, reflecting an ancient pattern of mental slavery.

Evidence: He states, 'most people do not think for themselves... it is evidence of a slave mentality' and compares modern Americans to the Israelites.

Spiritual regeneration is necessary for true freedom.

Summary: Without the Holy Spirit, a person remains in bondage to sin; only Christ can make one truly free.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 8:9 and John 8:36 to assert that those without the Spirit do not belong to Christ and are not free.

Fear reveals a lack of faith and a slave mentality.

Summary: The Israelites' fear of the Egyptians showed they were walking by sight, not faith; believers should trust God's promises.

Evidence: Weaver notes they 'lifted up their eyes' and were 'sore afraid,' contrasting this with 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Daniel 11:32.

Compromise is a rejection of God's deliverance.

Summary: The Israelites' desire to return to Egypt was a compromise that would have forfeited God's plan; similarly, believers must not trade truth for comfort.

Evidence: Weaver recounts Pharaoh's three compromises and Jesus' refusal to worship Satan, emphasizing that compromise gains the world but loses God's will.

Complacency keeps people in bondage.

Summary: The Israelites preferred the familiarity of slavery to the uncertainties of freedom; modern people similarly resist truth that disturbs their comfort.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Exodus 5:21 and 6:9, showing the Israelites' initial resistance to Moses' deliverance and their cry to be left alone.

A lust for convenience undermines faith and duty.

Summary: The Israelites' complaints were rooted in inconvenience; believers must be willing to suffer hardship for the sake of truth and freedom.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'The whole passage reeks of a lust and desire for convenience' and contrasts it with the founding fathers' willingness to sacrifice.

Scripture References

Exodus 14:10-12

Context: Primary text for the sermon; describes the Israelites' fear and complaint at the Red Sea.

Romans 12:2

Context: Used to define conformity to the world as a mold of thinking that must be rejected.

Romans 6

Context: Teaches that unbelievers are slaves to sin; believers are freed from sin's dominion.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Context: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; absence of the Spirit means bondage.

Romans 8:9

Context: If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

John 8:36

Context: If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1

Context: Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free; do not be entangled again in bondage.

Exodus 13:18

Context: Israel went up 'harnessed' (armed) out of Egypt, indicating they were not defenseless.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Context: We walk by faith, not by sight; contrasts with the Israelites' sight-based fear.

Psalm 3:4

Context: David cried to the Lord and was heard; contrasts with the Israelites' faithless cry.

Daniel 11:32

Context: The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits; knowing God produces courage.

Proverbs 29:25

Context: The fear of man brings a snare; trust in the Lord brings safety.

2 Timothy 1:7

Context: God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Exodus 8:25

Context: Pharaoh's first compromise: sacrifice in the land.

Exodus 10:11

Context: Pharaoh's second compromise: only men go.

Exodus 10:24

Context: Pharaoh's third compromise: leave cattle.

Numbers 14:3-4

Context: Israelites suggest making a captain and returning to Egypt.

Numbers 11:5

Context: Israelites remember the food in Egypt and despise manna.

Matthew 4:8-10

Context: Satan offers Jesus all kingdoms if He will worship him; Jesus refuses compromise.

Psalm 106:7

Context: Our fathers did not understand God's wonders in Egypt; they rebelled at the Red Sea.

Historical References

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Context: Quoted: 'None are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they're free.'

John Calvin

Context: Quoted regarding the Israelites' cry: it was not from faith but a confused impulse, natural to men in adversity.

Fairfax County, Virginia tree-cutting permit

Context: Weaver recounts his shock 35-40 years ago that a permit was needed to cut a tree on one's own property, illustrating loss of freedom.

American founding fathers

Context: Contrasted with modern Americans; they pledged lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, willing to be inconvenienced for liberty.

Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth'

Context: Mentioned in passing to contrast with God's inconvenient truth.

Important Quotes

None are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they're free.

Significance: Captures the theme that self-deception about freedom is a form of slavery; used to challenge modern assumptions.

Compromise is defeat on installments.

Significance: Succinctly defines the danger of incremental compromise, a key point in the sermon.

Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians.

Significance: The Israelites' statement epitomizes the slave mentality of complacency and preference for bondage over freedom.

For although life is dear, Yet free men born and free men bred, we'd rather live as free men dead than to live in slavish fear.

Significance: Poem excerpt emphasizing the value of freedom over life itself, reinforcing the call to reject a slave mentality.

You shall contribute nothing to the victory by your words or by your deeds. So, if you will excuse me for saying this, just shut your whining, complaining, griping mouth and watch God do what you're afraid to do.

Significance: Weaver's paraphrase of Moses' command to be silent and trust God, highlighting the rebuke of faithless complaining.

I had rather be inconvenienced and live with God in the wilderness than with Pharaoh in Egypt, or Obama in Washington.

Significance: Application of the message to contemporary political context, urging willingness to endure hardship for godly freedom.

Discussion Questions

In what ways do you see a 'slave mentality' expressed in modern culture, and how does it compare to the Israelites' attitude in Exodus 14?

Context: Weaver argues that most Americans think like slaves, prioritizing comfort and conformity.

How does fear manifest in your life, and what steps can you take to replace fear with faith according to Scripture?

Context: The sermon identifies cowardice as a key expression of a slave mentality, contrasting it with walking by faith.

What are some areas where Christians today are tempted to compromise, and what are the potential consequences?

Context: Weaver uses Pharaoh's compromises and Jesus' temptation to illustrate the danger of compromise.

Why do you think the Israelites preferred slavery in Egypt over the challenges of freedom? How might we exhibit similar complacency?

Context: The sermon highlights the Israelites' cry 'Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians' as complacency.

How does a desire for convenience affect our willingness to follow God's will, and what can we learn from Moses' command to 'hold your peace'?

Context: Weaver points out that the Israelites' complaints were rooted in inconvenience, and Moses told them to be silent and trust God.

What does it mean to 'think biblically and scripturally and as free men' in the context of today's political and social pressures?

Context: Weaver applies the message to modern America, urging believers to reject conformity and fight against tyranny.

Applications

Reject worldly conformity by renewing your mind with Scripture.

Summary: Believers must actively resist being pressed into the mold of worldly thinking and instead be transformed through God's Word.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 12:2 and emphasizes the need to think biblically rather than as slaves.

Replace fear with faith in God's promises.

Summary: Instead of being controlled by fear of circumstances or men, trust in God's power and deliverance as demonstrated in Scripture.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts the Israelites' fear with the call to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and notes God has not given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

Refuse to compromise truth for worldly gain.

Summary: Like Moses and Jesus, believers must reject compromises that offer temporary benefits but lead away from God's perfect will.

Evidence: Weaver uses Pharaoh's compromises and Jesus' temptation to show that compromise forfeits God's blessings.

Shake off complacency and embrace the responsibilities of freedom.

Summary: Do not be content with spiritual or political servitude; actively pursue truth and liberty even when it requires effort and sacrifice.

Evidence: The Israelites' cry 'Let us alone' is condemned; Weaver urges believers to have 'backbone and intestinal fortitude.'

Accept inconvenience as part of following God.

Summary: Be willing to endure hardship, deprivation, and conflict for the sake of righteousness, rather than seeking a comfortable, easy path.

Evidence: Weaver states he would rather be inconvenienced with God than comfortable in bondage, and points to the founding fathers' example.

Hate evil and stand against corruption.

Summary: Loving God necessarily involves hating what is contrary to Him; believers must actively oppose wickedness in society.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Psalm 97:10 and Psalm 94:16, calling for rising up against evildoers.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:14:07Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T00:02:15Z

Clean Transcript

Expressions of a Slave Mentality

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bibles today to the book of Exodus chapter 14. The title of the message today is "Expressions of a Slave Mentality." Exodus chapter 14, and let's begin reading there with verse 10. Exodus 14, verse 10: "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord."
#1 | 0:16 to 0:48 | cleaned
"And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."
#2 | 0:49 to 1:10 | cleaned
Have you ever noticed that most people do not think for themselves? And have you ever noticed that those who do not think independently somehow all fit into the same mold? It does not matter where you travel in America, most people think the way the news commentators, the propaganda experts, the TV and the Hollywood film directors lead them. And it's not something new; it's something that is very, very old.
#3 | 1:11 to 1:41 | cleaned
It is evidence of a slave mentality. Now the slave mentality expresses itself in many and varied ways. There are very few things over which slaves really genuinely concern themselves. They're really more interested in their comfort, provision, and rest than anything else. They do their work, they eat, they drink, and rest, and anything over and above that is beyond them and they do not concern themselves with it.
#4 | 1:42 to 2:15 | cleaned
All they simply want to do is exist. And I submit to you that is where most Americans really are. They're just trying to exist and they really just want to exist. Years ago I preached a message on the slave mentality from the book of Judges. That message is in my second book and I'm not re-preaching that message. This message is totally, completely different from that. But it's amazing to me that as I read through the Bible so many times you find a slave mentality and always, no exceptions, that slave mentality is always condemned.
#5 | 2:16 to 3:06 | cleaned
Now the children of Israel had been slaves. They had been enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years. Consequently their thinking had been conditioned and they basically thought as slaves think. So it's not unique then to find the children of Israel when they first come out of Egypt thinking as slaves think. What is unique about this situation to me is simply this, that the average American today thinks exactly the way the Israelites did when they first came out of Egypt.
#6 | 3:07 to 3:45 | cleaned
They were in bondage and they knew it. We're in bondage and we don't even realize it. We are equally enslaved as Israel was of old and it is evidenced by a slave mentality. Now, before someone objects and says, "But wait a minute, I don't have a slave mentality," may I remind you of Romans chapter 12 and verse 2, where the word of God says, now listen carefully, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Now the word "conformed" literally means to be pressed into a mold. And in the context, it specially refers to the mold of thinking as the world thinks. So God says, "Be not conformed to this world, don't be pressed into the mold of worldly thinking, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." So anyone then who is pressed into a mold and thinks as the world is thinking as a slave thinks, because may I point out that Romans chapter 6 teaches that those who are unsaved are already slaves to sin.
#7 | 3:46 to 5:04 | cleaned
That's why Romans chapter 6 talks about the domination or the dominion of sin and how we who are in Christ Jesus have been freed from the dominion of sin and we are now under dominion to the Lord Jesus Christ. So there is a slavery that exists just by virtue of the fact that people are unsaved and just by virtue of the fact that people think the way the world thinks.
#8 | 5:05 to 5:30 | cleaned
Now the Bible teaches us in 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 17, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." So where the Spirit is not, there is no liberty. So if the Holy Spirit then is the one who produces liberty and freedom, where He is not, there can only exist bondage and slavery. That's why in Romans 8 and verse 9, the scripture says, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." What does that mean? That means if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you do not belong to Christ. If you do not belong to Christ, then you're still under the dominion of sin, and you're lost, and you're unsaved. That's why in John 8 and verse 36, the scripture said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
#9 | 5:30 to 6:31 | cleaned
And it's only after we're regenerated, only after we're converted, that we understand what real freedom really is. And that's why in Galatians 5 and verse 1, scripture says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." So Christ then has freed us. But not only is there a bondage to sin by nature and a bondage revealed by worldly conformity and worldly thinking, there's also a bondage that attends a misconception of reality. We perceive and think sometimes that we really know what freedom is and that we are free when we are hopelessly bound by the laws and the traditions of men.
#10 | 6:32 to 7:34 | cleaned
It was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who said this, "None are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they're free." You're hopelessly enslaved when you just simply falsely believe that you're free. Now, simply saying that we are free does not make us free. Simply believing that we are free does not make us free. It would be an interesting poll to find out the definition that most Americans today give to freedom. How many of you have heard people say, "Well, we're the most free country in the world"? Well, we say we're free and yet we have to be licensed and regulated and controlled and spied upon and manipulated by our own government.
#11 | 7:35 to 8:36 | cleaned
I never will forget how horrified I was, and it had to be nearly 40 years ago, 35 to 40 years ago, when I was up in Virginia in Fairfax County, Virginia, which, by the way, was a seat of religious and political liberty and freedom back in the 1700s. But when I was in Fairfax County, Virginia, nearly 40 years ago, and I found out that you could not cut a tree down off your own property without having a permit from the local government, I couldn't believe it. I just could not believe it. And yet it was true that long ago.
#12 | 8:37 to 9:16 | cleaned
You see, the evidence that we are actually slaves comes forward in our slave mentality. We do not know how to think as free men. We do not know how to think as free individuals. Practically everywhere you look, you can find expressions of a slave mentality. So, let's ask this question. How does a slave mentality express itself? Well, I'm going to look in Exodus chapter 14, and I'm going to show you four evidences of a slave mentality. So first of all, I want you to look at verse 10. The Bible says, Exodus 14, "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes."
#13 | 9:17 to 10:09 | cleaned
"And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." First, the slave mentality expresses itself in cowardice. Cowardice. Notice, if you would, what the scripture said, that these individuals were sore afraid. Why were they afraid? Now, you could say, well, some of the Israelites may have been unarmed. They may have been, but you've got to remember this, that in all probability, the Israelites outnumbered the Egyptians that were marching after them. Moreover, you could say, well, those Egyptians were disciplined military fighting men. Well, that may have been true. And Israel may have been inferior militarily speaking. But however, I taught yesterday and I demonstrated yesterday how Israel was organized as a militia and they marched out of Egypt as a militia.
#14 | 10:10 to 11:26 | cleaned
If you would look in Exodus chapter 13 and verse 18 right there. Exodus 13 verse 18: "But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt." Now the word "harnessed" is a very interesting word. It is translated as "armed" twice in our Bibles. It is translated as "armed men" once in our Bibles. And it refers to the fact that Israel went up out of Egypt in battle array in ranks of five.
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So they were marching out as a militia. They were not defenseless. They were not helpless. Moreover, you've got to remember this, the Lord had already revealed to Moses exactly what he was going to do to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and how that God would get him honor from the destruction of Pharaoh and his army. Moreover, you've got to remember this, that Israel had just been miraculously delivered out of Egypt by the hand of the Lord.
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The blood had been applied and they were now being led by the pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. You would think that under such a situation and such circumstances, the children of Israel having been miraculously delivered and miraculously led, they would have been saying, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" But they weren't saying that. Instead of lifting up their faith, look what the scripture says, "And they lifted up their eyes."
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What they saw terrified them. What they looked at was very disconcerting. Why? They were not operating in the realm of faith, they were operating in the realm of sight. And the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 7 says as Christians, listen carefully, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." You see, sight always looks at situations. It looks at circumstances. It looks at fleshly observations. Faith always looks to the Lord and to His Word and to His power and to His promises. Since the Israelites were not looking by faith, here's what they saw.
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The sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, and being walled in by the wilderness. They basically saw no escape. So to the natural eye, looking by sight, escape was impossible. Captivity or death, absolutely certain. But don't you look back at verse 10 again. Here's another interesting thought. "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid." Now look! "And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." Wow! You know, David said in Psalm 3 and verse 4, "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill."
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But may I point something out? There is a vast difference between a cry of faith and a cry of desperation and fear. The children of Israel here did not cry out in faith. They cried out in fear. Their crying out was only from their troubles, only from their observations, only from what they saw. It was only a result of their despair and their upcoming defeat. They cried to the Lord, but they had absolutely no confidence in Him.
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They did not trust in Him. They did not believe in His help, notwithstanding all the previous manifestations of His mercy and His grace that had been given to them. How do we know that their cry was a cry of desperation and fear rather than a cry of faith? The answer is very easy. Read the next verse. Look at verse 11. "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?" They did not believe God, nor did they believe Moses. They had no faith.
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They were afraid to fight. But I want you to notice something. They were certainly not afraid to criticize God or Moses. Isn't that interesting? When men fear men, they're not afraid to criticize God or His preacher. Let me give you a quote from John Calvin. It's very interesting. He said this, "Although there is an appearance of two contrary facts being here reported, number one, that they cried out to the Lord, and number two, that they mutinied against His minister, yet we may easily gather that this cry neither arose from faith nor from serious and well-ordered affections, but it was extorted by a confused impulse, since the natural sense impels all men in their adversity promiscuously to offer their prayers to God, although they neither embrace His mercy nor rely upon His power." So what did Calvin just say? It is only natural for men when they see themselves in a very serious situation to cry out to God for help when they neither really trust Him nor believe Him. They were cowards. They were afraid to fight.
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They were afraid to believe the Lord. They were afraid to trust Him. They were afraid to believe His promises. It must be an awful, awful thing to all of a sudden realize how impotent, how helpless, how weak you really are and you see your enemy advancing in power and strength and you have nowhere to turn and no one in whom to trust. Sight, situations and circumstances and looking without faith will make cowards out of everyone. If you and I are to ever conquer, we must learn to be children of faith.
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You know what the Bible says in Daniel 11 in verse 32, "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." The people that know their God, the little word "know" refers to an intimate personal relationship and intimate personal knowledge that has been acquired through trust and teaching. You know, ancient Israel was just like modern day Christendom. They had the teaching, but they didn't listen, nor did they believe.
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And consequently, when they got in a tight their cowardice was revealed. Where were their courage, their faith, and their fortitude? Why did not these Israelites lift up their eyes and say, "It's better to die on the field of honor than to die in Egypt as slaves"? Why did they not say, "It's better to live as God's free men here in the wilderness than to serve Pharaoh and the brick kilns and the sweatshops in Egypt"? But they didn't say that.
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They said none of those things. You know why? Because they were cowards. They were afraid to fight for their lives, for their families, for their freedoms. Slaves are fearful beings. And those who possess a slave mentality are always in fear. And their fear is furthered by man. What? The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29 and verse 25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." The more you fear man, the more you are ensnared by the fear of man. Thankfully, in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 1 in verse 7, the Bible tells us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." So if you and I are afraid, mark it down, it didn't come from God. It had to come from sin, or from self, or from some other source. For God does not give us a spirit of fear. And the very fact that men are afraid shows that they're ensnared in bondage and in slavery.
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To the extent that we are cowards, to the extent that we're fearful and afraid and unbelieving, to that extent, we will always express a slave mentality. Secondly, I want you to look in verse 11, because a slave mentality also expresses itself in compromise. Notice verse 11, "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?" Compromise is a word that is on the lips of every politician, usually every bureaucrat, and businessman, and unhappily it is also on the lips of the average professing Christian. We have forgotten principles. We have forgotten truth. And we have forgotten that there are some things that are worth fighting for and worth dying for.
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I just got a message yesterday. Someone sent me a little simple statement. It said this, "Compromise is defeat on installments." I want you to look at this situation. Here's this whole body of people, probably two million at a minimum, and they taunt Moses with a very bitter taunt. When they lift up their eyes and they see the Egyptians behind them and the sea in front of them and the wilderness on each side of them, they said, "What's wrong with you? Was it because there was not enough room in Egypt to bury all of us that you had to bring us out here in this wilderness? We could have stayed in Egypt.
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We would have been more comfortable there. And we would not be experiencing all this fear and this bitterness that we're experiencing now if it had not been for you. You just brought us out here so that we could be buried in this stupid wilderness." I want you to note what they're doing. Here's what they're saying. They're taunting Moses as if God and Moses were both accountable to them. They were boastful, they were petulant, and they were indeed reproaching Moses and God for not listening to them. They were smarter than God. They were smarter than Moses. And had God and Moses listened to them, surely things could have been worked out. Surely there would have been a compromise that could have been acceptable to them and to Pharaoh as well. In fact, you've got to remember, Pharaoh offered them three compromises. When they kept coming to Pharaoh, and Moses kept saying, "Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go."
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At first, of course, he refused. And then God began sending those plagues. And finally, the first compromise is found in Exodus 8 and verse 25. When he told the children of Israel, "All right, all right, I've sinned. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to let you sacrifice in the land. Just don't go far away. Don't go out of the land." Moses said, "No, sir. No, no. God's told us where to go."
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And moreover, we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians. No, no, no. We're not going to do that. The second compromise came in Exodus chapter 10, verse 11, when Pharaoh said, "All right, all right, I've sinned again. I've had enough of these plagues. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I want to let all you men go out of the country and sacrifice, but your wives and your children have to stay here." Moses says, "No, that's not going to happen. No, we're not going to do that. When we leave, we're taking our wives and our children with us." Finally, here's the third compromise in Exodus chapter 10 and verse 24, when Pharaoh said, "All right, all of you may go, but your cattle has to stay." Children of Israel, through Moses said, "No, no. When we leave, everything is going with us." Now, I want you to note something. It was Moses who had rejected all three of the compromises. And now the children of Israel are taunting Moses and they're saying, "You just brought us out here to die."
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"You brought us out here because there's not enough graves in Egypt. We could be back in Egypt enjoying ourselves if you had not been so stubborn and hard-headed and so principled. But no, you brought us out here to die. Besides, listen to this, what kind of God would bring you out in the wilderness to suffer to perish?" Either God didn't love them enough or God didn't have wisdom enough or foresight enough to know what was going to happen.
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They believed that they should take care of themselves. They could work things out. And the way they were going to work things out, here is their remedy. We'll return to Egypt. What? Oh. Turn over to Numbers chapter 14. Look in Numbers chapter 14. And let's begin reading there with verse 3. Numbers 14 verse 3. Here's the remedy. Look at what they say. Numbers 14 verse 3. They ask.
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"And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" And they said one to another, "Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." Hey, we don't have to die out here. We can go back home. And I want to tell you something else.
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This just kind of blows my mind. The children of Israel falsely believed that they were also better provided for in Egypt than in the wilderness. What? Don't you remember that God gave them manna? By the way, the word "manna" just simply means, "What is it?" They didn't know what it was. That's what the word means. But God gave them the perfect food that would nourish them and sustain them.
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And if you look back in your Bibles to Numbers 11 and verse 5, look what these wicked, rebellious, faithless people say to Moses. "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." What? Oh, I remember those leeks and those garlics. Oh, boy, that was delicious. Eating raw onions out of the field. Well, we'd rather have the leeks and the garlics and everything that stink rather than the manna that God has provided for us. What kind of God would bring us out here and feed us this stupid bread? That was their attitude.
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Let me tell you something, folks. The truth of the matter is this. If we compromise, we can have a lot of things. I want you to think about that. Do you realize if I wanted to cut corners, if I wanted to compromise, I could have a huge church building with hundreds of people. I would never ever have to study another day the rest of my life. Listen folks, I've got more messages than you can shake a stick at and all I have to do is take one message and cut it down into about thirds or one quarter and water it down. One message would last me a month in the average church. Do you understand that? And I could say, "Look at what I've got. I've got a church and I've got 500 folks in it." You know, to get people, all you have to do is trim the message and give a little bit of entertainment. That's it. Make people feel good about themselves. What have you got when you do that? I'd rather preach to 10 people that genuinely want the Word of God than 10,000 who could care less about it.
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If you look in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4, I want to just show you. You can get a lot of things by compromising. Look at Matthew chapter 4. Beginning there, verse 8. Here our Lord is being tempted of the devil. Here He's being offered a compromise. Matthew chapter 4, verse 8. Watch carefully. "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." What did Satan offer him? All the kingdoms of the world.
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Let me ask you a question. What does Jesus Christ now have? He now has all the kingdoms of the world. What Satan is saying is this. You just worship me. I'll give you this and you don't have to die. You don't have to suffer. You don't have to go through the cross. No, no, no. You just worship me. I'll give you everything. I got news for you folks. We may compromise and get everything the world has to offer. But we would never have everything that God has to offer. We would never have His blessings. We would never have His power upon us. And we would never be in a position where we could truly, genuinely honor and glorify Him. You see, the truth of the matter is this, folks. Compromise is only for those individuals who do not want the perfect and blessed will of God in their lives. Compromise will be for people who want things instead of truth and righteousness and liberty and freedom.
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Do you know why the children of Israel were griping and grumbling and complaining and taunting Moses? So, I'll tell you why. Because they did not understand what God had done for them. Here it is. Don't turn there. Let me just read it. Psalm 106 verse 7. Listen to what the scripture says. David wrote, "Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea." What? Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They didn't understand anything about God or God's salvation. They did not remember His mercies, everything that He'd done. And so they taunted and provoked Him and wanted to compromise. The reason we have a slave mentality today is we don't understand the wonders and the work of God. And we don't really consider His mercies and His compassions.
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I've thought of this a hundred times. I'm 66 years old. I'm not as old as some of you. But I'm going to tell you something. The only reason I'm alive today is because of God's mercies and God's compassions. And I've already lived longer than a whole lot of other people have lived. And we need to stop and consider, Lord, if it's not for You, we will have nothing, we are nothing, we can do nothing. Everything we have, everything we are, is only because of God's mercies.
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And the slave mentality is ready to compromise all of that.
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Just stop and think. A slave mentality expresses itself in cowardice, in compromise. And thirdly, I want you to look. The slave mentality expresses itself in complacency. Oh, look in verse 12. Look what the children of Israel said. Exodus 14 verse 12. "Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." I want you to note what they said. "Let us alone."
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Slaves are satisfied in their serfdom and in their slavery. They have no desire to be upset, to be disturbed, or to have the boat rocked. They're satisfied with the status quo. Listen to what they said, "Let us alone." Slaves do not want to be bothered with the facts. They don't want to be bothered with the truth. They're not concerned about those things. And the children of Israel, by the way, when they were in Egypt, were even upset with the fact that Moses was attempting to deliver them. What? Yes.
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Look back in Exodus chapter 5 and verse 21. Of course, Pharaoh has made it a little rougher for them because of Moses. And in Exodus chapter 5 and verse 21, look what the elders of Israel say to Moses as they come out of the presence of Pharaoh. Pharaoh's already told them now they're going to make the same number of bricks and yet without straw, they'll have to get the straw themselves. Verse 21, Exodus chapter 5. In fact, let's read verse 20. "And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us." What, Moses? What are you doing? You said you were going to come down here and deliver us. All you've done is made things worse. That's all.
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Yeah, you haven't delivered us. Quit talking about that stuff. In fact, look in your Bibles now to Exodus chapter 6. Here's an interesting thing. Exodus chapter 6 and verse 9. Notice, Exodus 6 and verse 9. "And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage." Now wait a minute. They said to Moses, "Did we not say unto you, Let us alone?" "Let us alone" is the cry of all the slaves.
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We do not wish to be free. Freedom involves responsibilities. It involves thinking. It involves planning. It involves work. It involves taking care of oneself and one's family. Freedom involves preparation, education, and a willingness to fight. They said, "Let us alone."
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Now I want you to look at this. I'm fixing to tie these two thoughts together for you. But I want you to notice what they said in Exodus 14. Go back over there. This is absolutely amazing. Exodus 14 verse 12. Now watch. "Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt?" Here's what we told you Moses. "Let us alone"—watch—"that we may serve the Egyptians." What? One minute in Exodus chapter 6 and verse 9, they're groaning and screaming and crying because of the cruel bondage and oppression, and the next minute they're saying, "We've got it good here Moses, just let us alone. Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians."
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In other words, we're content. We're willing to stay here and be slaves to these Egyptians. They did not want to be the slave of the One True and the Living God. They did not want to serve Him. They wanted to serve the Egyptians. Do you understand that according to the New Testament, we're to be God's free men? He tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, now listen to this, watch. "No, you're not. You're not your own. You're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are His." And in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 23, he says again, "You are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." How do we become the slaves of men? I want you to turn over in your Bibles Deuteronomy 28.
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I'm going to let the Bible answer that for you. I want to show you. Deuteronomy 28. And let's begin reading there with verse 43. Deuteronomy 28 and verse 43. Look what the scripture says. Deuteronomy 28 verse 43. This is part of the curses of God's law when we disobey that law. So watch what he said, Deuteronomy 28 in verse 43. "The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail." Watch, "Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed." Why?
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"Because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee." What? What did God say? You can either serve me or you can serve your enemy. I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather be the slave of God than the slave of man. You know, this is just absolutely astounding to me.
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I want you to understand, this is from the mouths of God's covenant people in the Old Testament. They said, "Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians." That blows my mind. "Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians"? What? Servitude and slavery and suffering were preferred over living and dying as free men. Are you listening to me? This is exactly what is happening in America today. Slavery and serfdom and suffering is preferred over living and dying as free men.
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It is time to turn off the TV set. It's time to get up from the couch and forget the controlled media, forget the newspapers and magazines, and begin to search and study for yourself. It's time to get past football and baseball and every other sport of its kind. If we do not get a little backbone and intestinal fortitude and just plain old everyday country guts, we will continue to serve the Egyptians. They will use us.
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pillage us, steal from us, break us, and destroy us. It's better to live and die as free men than to live as slaves. And I don't agree with "better red than dead." It's better dead and free than suffering and living under Marxist dictatorship. There's a poem, I'm only going to quote just a few stanzas of it. It's from "Revels." The author is anonymous. Just one paragraph. "For although life is dear, Yet free men born and free men bred, we'd rather live as free men dead than to live in slavish fear."
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"Then call us rebels if you will. We glory in the name for bending under unjust laws and swearing faith to an unjust cause. We count it greater shame." It's time to shake off the slave mentality of complacency. There's one last point. A slave mentality always expresses itself not only in cowardice and complacency. Yeah. It also expresses itself in convenience. If you go back to our text in Exodus chapter 14, and look at verses 10 through 12 again.
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Let me just read them. I want you to look at this. Exodus 14, verse 10. "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."
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The whole passage reeks of a lust and desire for convenience. Their cries, their complaints, and their anguish, listen carefully, was all brought about by their inconvenience. Are you listening? It was not convenient to leave Egypt. It was not convenient to travel in the wilderness. It was not convenient to do without food they were used to eating. It was not convenient to travel and live by faith. It was not convenient to be temporarily deprived and to suffer. It was not convenient to be boxed in and faced with overwhelming odds. It was not convenient to trust in the Lord, nor in Moses. The whole cry of Israel is based upon their inconvenience. Surely, surely they thought God could have discovered and found a convenient way to deliver them out of Egypt. Why did they have to suffer?
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Why did they have to fight? Why did they have to go through all of this? Surely God knew how upsetting this whole episode was for them. Surely He knew how inconvenient it was. What's wrong with God? How could such a loving God be so inconsiderate? Wow! Whining, complaining, bellyaching and groaning had to be stopped. Look in verse 14. I love this. Verse 14. Here's what Moses said. Let's read verse 13. "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Let me paraphrase this. Here's what Moses said to the children of Israel.
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"You shall contribute nothing to the victory by your words or by your deeds. So, if you will excuse me for saying this, just shut your whining, complaining, griping mouth and watch God do what you're afraid to do." That's basically what he said. Just shut up. Just shut up. You're not going to have to lift your little finger. You're not going to have to get your clothes dirty. God will take care of it.
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Now folks, I'm going to tell you, the Scripture does tell us there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes 3 and verse 7. David understood that for in Psalm 38 and verse 13 he said, "But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth." He said, "I understand there's a time to keep my mouth shut." And these people had bellyached and complained so much that Moses finally said, "Just hold your peace, shut your mouth."
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The God whom you do not trust in and whom you do not believe will deliver you again. And maybe you will listen and maybe you will learn. The problem that we're facing in this country, one of them is the monster of convenience. We do not want to be inconvenienced. We do not want an inconvenient truth. Not Al Gore's inconvenient truth, but God's inconvenient truth. We just don't want to be inconvenienced.
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If the average American was around in 1776, we would still be colonies of England. The average American today, if we were around, we'd still be controlled by England. There'd have been no fighting. There'd have been no resistance because it was inconvenient. Instead, our founding fathers said, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." They were willing to be inconvenienced for their children and their grandchildren and future generations. I'll tell you, I had rather be inconvenienced and live with God in the wilderness than with Pharaoh in Egypt, or Obama in Washington.
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It's time to cast off a slave mentality and learn to think biblically and scripturally and as free men. Now, let me point something out. By way of application, you say, "But we have all these programs that our government is giving us." You have to understand folks that slave masters had much rather keep their slaves sufficiently well fed and clothed and housed and occasionally entertained in order to keep their mind and their thoughts away from their slavery and their bondage. And we can also think this way. Our slave masters want us to think of the great beyond, the paradise that awaits us in the sky.
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We can all look for that. What? Well, what about the injustice? What about the corruption? What about the fraud? What about the deceit? What about the dishonesty? Oh, don't worry about that. Just think about what it's going to be in the future. Why? I've got news for you folks. If all you're concerned about is the future, you will never be concerned about the present tyranny, despotism, totalitarianism, corruption, fraud, and wickedness that exists today.
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We have to fight a slave mentality. Why did He say, "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"? It is a fight to think biblically. It is a fight to think scripturally. No one likes to fight all the time. No one likes confrontation. No one likes to be constantly and continually arguing. But we cannot give in, and we cannot give up, and we cannot give out. And we cannot think as slaves, we must think as free men, God's free men. And what did our Lord say in Psalm 94 and verse 16?
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Let me just quote it. "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" And then he said in Psalm 97 verse 10, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." May I tell you, you cannot love God without at the same time hating everything that is contrary to Him. If you love the Lord, you will hate everything that is contrary to Him. You will hate it, you will expose it, you will fight against it, and by God's grace, you will overcome it and destroy it.
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How does the slave mentality express itself? It always expresses itself in cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. We want truth above all, and freedom first in Christ, and then in life above all. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We ask You to help us not to have a slave mentality, not to think in terms of cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. But help us to think, Lord, in terms of what is right and what is our responsibility and what is our duty before Thee and before man. Help us, Lord, to bow to Thy truth and bow to Thy Word and make us holy and godly. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:14:07Z

Expressions of a Slave Mentality

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver examines Exodus 14:10-12 to identify four expressions of a slave mentality: cowardice, compromise, complacency, and convenience. He argues that the Israelites' fear, desire to return to Egypt, contentment with slavery, and preference for comfort over freedom mirror the mindset of many modern Americans. Weaver contends that true freedom comes only through Christ and requires rejecting worldly conformity, thinking biblically, and being willing to fight for truth and liberty.

Introduction: The Prevalence of a Slave Mentality

Weaver introduces the concept of a slave mentality, noting that most people do not think independently and are conformed to worldly thinking, which is evidence of spiritual bondage.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 14:10-12

"And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid. And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."

Biblical Foundation: Freedom in Christ vs. Bondage to Sin

Weaver explains that unbelievers are slaves to sin, but Christ brings liberty; true freedom is found only through regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:17

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

First Expression: Cowardice

The Israelites' fear of the Egyptians reveals a slave mentality of cowardice; they operated by sight rather than faith, crying out in desperation without trust in God.

If you would look in Exodus chapter 13 and verse 18 right there. Exodus 13 verse 18:

Scripture Reading — Exodus 13:18

"But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt."

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:7

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Scripture Reading — Daniel 11:32

"The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 29:25

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."

Second Expression: Compromise

The Israelites taunted Moses and desired to return to Egypt, rejecting God's deliverance; compromise offers worldly gain but forfeits God's blessings and perfect will.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 8:25

At first, of course, he refused. And then God began sending those plagues. And finally, the first compromise is found in Exodus 8 and verse 25. When he told the children of Israel, "All right, all right, I've sinned. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to let you sacrifice in the land. Just don't go far away. Don't go out of the land." Moses said, "No, sir. No, no. God's told us where to go."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 10:11

And moreover, we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians. No, no, no. We're not going to do that. The second compromise came in Exodus chapter 10, verse 11, when Pharaoh said, "All right, all right, I've sinned again. I've had enough of these plagues. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I want to let all you men go out of the country and sacrifice, but your wives and your children have to stay here." Moses says, "No, that's not going to happen. No, we're not going to do that. When we leave, we're taking our wives and our children with us." Finally, here's the third compromise in Exodus chapter 10 and verse 24, when Pharaoh said, "All right, all of you may go, but your cattle has to stay." Children of Israel, through Moses said, "No, no. When we leave, everything is going with us." Now, I want you to note something. It was Moses who had rejected all three of the compromises. And now the children of Israel are taunting Moses and they're saying, "You just brought us out here to die."

And if you look back in your Bibles to Numbers 11 and verse 5, look what these wicked, rebellious, faithless people say to Moses.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 11:5

"We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 4:8-10

"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

What did Satan offer him? All the kingdoms of the world.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:7

"Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea."

Third Expression: Complacency

The Israelites preferred slavery in Egypt over the responsibilities of freedom, saying 'Let us alone'; this complacency mirrors modern contentment with servitude.

Fourth Expression: Convenience

The Israelites' complaints stemmed from inconvenience; they wanted an easy deliverance. Moses commanded them to be silent and watch God fight for them.

Application: Rejecting the Slave Mentality Today

Weaver applies the message to modern America, urging believers to think biblically, hate evil, and fight against tyranny and corruption rather than seeking comfort.

Expressions of a Slave Mentality

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	4-6fLhnoHWQ
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-02-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 078: Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover - Volume 1 — Chapter 17
Source Timed Segments	67

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Prevalence of a Slave Mentality: Weaver introduces the concept of a slave mentality, noting that most people do not think independently and are conformed to worldly thinking, which is evidence of spiritual bondage.
Biblical Foundation: Freedom in Christ vs. Bondage to Sin: Weaver explains that unbelievers are slaves to sin, but Christ brings liberty; true freedom is found only through regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
First Expression: Cowardice: The Israelites' fear of the Egyptians reveals a slave mentality of cowardice; they operated by sight rather than faith, crying out in desperation without trust in God.
Second Expression: Compromise: The Israelites taunted Moses and desired to return to Egypt, rejecting God's deliverance; compromise offers worldly gain but forfeits God's blessings and perfect will.
Third Expression: Complacency: The Israelites preferred slavery in Egypt over the responsibilities of freedom, saying 'Let us alone'; this complacency mirrors modern contentment with servitude.
Fourth Expression: Convenience: The Israelites' complaints stemmed from inconvenience; they wanted an easy deliverance. Moses commanded them to be silent and watch God fight for them.
Application: Rejecting the Slave Mentality Today: Weaver applies the message to modern America, urging believers to think biblically, hate evil, and fight against tyranny and corruption rather than seeking comfort.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Most people exhibit a slave mentality by not thinking independently.

Weaver argues that the majority conform to media and cultural narratives, reflecting an ancient pattern of mental slavery.

He states, 'most people do not think for themselves... it is evidence of a slave mentality' and compares modern Americans to the Israelites.

Spiritual regeneration is necessary for true freedom.

Without the Holy Spirit, a person remains in bondage to sin; only Christ can make one truly free.

Weaver cites Romans 8:9 and John 8:36 to assert that those without the Spirit do not belong to Christ and are not free.

Fear reveals a lack of faith and a slave mentality.

The Israelites' fear of the Egyptians showed they were walking by sight, not faith; believers should trust God's promises.

Weaver notes they 'lifted up their eyes' and were 'sore afraid,' contrasting this with 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Daniel 11:32.

Compromise is a rejection of God's deliverance.

The Israelites' desire to return to Egypt was a compromise that would have forfeited God's plan; similarly, believers must not trade truth for comfort.

Weaver recounts Pharaoh's three compromises and Jesus' refusal to worship Satan, emphasizing that compromise gains the world but loses God's will.

Complacency keeps people in bondage.

The Israelites preferred the familiarity of slavery to the uncertainties of freedom; modern people similarly resist truth that disturbs their comfort.

Weaver quotes Exodus 5:21 and 6:9, showing the Israelites' initial resistance to Moses' deliverance and their cry to be left alone.

A lust for convenience undermines faith and duty.

The Israelites' complaints were rooted in inconvenience; believers must be willing to suffer hardship for the sake of truth and freedom.

Weaver states, 'The whole passage reeks of a lust and desire for convenience' and contrasts it with the founding fathers' willingness to sacrifice.

Scripture References

Exodus 14:10-12: Primary text for the sermon; describes the Israelites' fear and complaint at the Red Sea.
Romans 12:2: Used to define conformity to the world as a mold of thinking that must be rejected.
Romans 6: Teaches that unbelievers are slaves to sin; believers are freed from sin's dominion.
2 Corinthians 3:17: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; absence of the Spirit means bondage.
Romans 8:9: If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
John 8:36: If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free; do not be entangled again in bondage.
Exodus 13:18: Israel went up 'harnessed' (armed) out of Egypt, indicating they were not defenseless.
2 Corinthians 5:7: We walk by faith, not by sight; contrasts with the Israelites' sight-based fear.
Psalm 3:4: David cried to the Lord and was heard; contrasts with the Israelites' faithless cry.
Daniel 11:32: The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits; knowing God produces courage.
Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man brings a snare; trust in the Lord brings safety.
2 Timothy 1:7: God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Exodus 8:25: Pharaoh's first compromise: sacrifice in the land.
Exodus 10:11: Pharaoh's second compromise: only men go.
Exodus 10:24: Pharaoh's third compromise: leave cattle.
Numbers 14:3-4: Israelites suggest making a captain and returning to Egypt.
Numbers 11:5: Israelites remember the food in Egypt and despise manna.
Matthew 4:8-10: Satan offers Jesus all kingdoms if He will worship him; Jesus refuses compromise.
Psalm 106:7: Our fathers did not understand God's wonders in Egypt; they rebelled at the Red Sea.

Historical References

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Quoted: 'None are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they're free.'
John Calvin: Quoted regarding the Israelites' cry: it was not from faith but a confused impulse, natural to men in adversity.
Fairfax County, Virginia tree-cutting permit: Weaver recounts his shock 35-40 years ago that a permit was needed to cut a tree on one's own property, illustrating loss of freedom.
American founding fathers: Contrasted with modern Americans; they pledged lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, willing to be inconvenienced for liberty.
Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth': Mentioned in passing to contrast with God's inconvenient truth.

Important Quotes

None are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they're free.

Captures the theme that self-deception about freedom is a form of slavery; used to challenge modern assumptions.

Compromise is defeat on installments.

Succinctly defines the danger of incremental compromise, a key point in the sermon.

Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians.

The Israelites' statement epitomizes the slave mentality of complacency and preference for bondage over freedom.

For although life is dear, Yet free men born and free men bred, we'd rather live as free men dead than to live in slavish fear.

Poem excerpt emphasizing the value of freedom over life itself, reinforcing the call to reject a slave mentality.

You shall contribute nothing to the victory by your words or by your deeds. So, if you will excuse me for saying this, just shut your whining, complaining, griping mouth and watch God do what you're afraid to do.

Weaver's paraphrase of Moses' command to be silent and trust God, highlighting the rebuke of faithless complaining.

I had rather be inconvenienced and live with God in the wilderness than with Pharaoh in Egypt, or Obama in Washington.

Application of the message to contemporary political context, urging willingness to endure hardship for godly freedom.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways do you see a 'slave mentality' expressed in modern culture, and how does it compare to the Israelites' attitude in Exodus 14?

[Context]

Weaver argues that most Americans think like slaves, prioritizing comfort and conformity.

[Question]

How does fear manifest in your life, and what steps can you take to replace fear with faith according to Scripture?

[Context]

The sermon identifies cowardice as a key expression of a slave mentality, contrasting it with walking by faith.

[Question]

What are some areas where Christians today are tempted to compromise, and what are the potential consequences?

[Context]

Weaver uses Pharaoh's compromises and Jesus' temptation to illustrate the danger of compromise.

[Question]

Why do you think the Israelites preferred slavery in Egypt over the challenges of freedom? How might we exhibit similar complacency?

[Context]

The sermon highlights the Israelites' cry 'Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians' as complacency.

[Question]

How does a desire for convenience affect our willingness to follow God's will, and what can we learn from Moses' command to 'hold your peace'?

[Context]

Weaver points out that the Israelites' complaints were rooted in inconvenience, and Moses told them to be silent and trust God.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'think biblically and scripturally and as free men' in the context of today's political and social pressures?

[Context]

Weaver applies the message to modern America, urging believers to reject conformity and fight against tyranny.

Applications

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