We are moving into chapter eight of Exodus with our word for today, used twice in our chapter. עָבַד till, toil, work, serve, accomplish, do, labor. It is used 287 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at how it is used in our chapter. Exodus 8:1, 20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי serve me… Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי serve me. What is interesting is that this is the first time our word is used to describe what was earlier called זָבַח sacrifice which it is referred to in this way 14 times. We have already looked at this word for sacrifice but it is relevant to our word for today. Even in our chapter for today we see sacrifice used seven times to refer to the request to go. Exodus 8:8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to וְיִזְבְּח֖וּ sacrifice to the Lord.” Exodus 8:25-26, 29 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, זִבְח֥וּ sacrifice to your God within the land.”...We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and וּזְבַחְתֶּ֞ם sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.” Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to לִזְבֹּ֖חַ sacrifice to the Lord.” When we see words used this way in the Bible it shows us that there is a close relationship between them.
So our word עָבַד for serve and the word זָבַח for sacrifice have something in common. I think the connection is that one of the ways that we serve God involves sacrifice. A great example of this is in Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and spiritual worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. This passage has the Greek words, which is what the New Testament was written in, both words sacrifice and the word for spiritual worship is also translated spiritual service. How we serve God is to offer our lives up as living sacrifices to God we put to death our flesh or sinful nature which is repeated over and over again in the Bible. A good example of this is when Jesus says not my will but yours be done when facing the terrifying separation from God his father for the first time on the cross for our sins. We also see this in 1 Peter 2:5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We offer spiritual sacrifices to God that he accepts when we grow up in our salvation as verse 2 says in 1 Peter chapter 2. Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Because of what God has done for us through Jesus we can serve him by giving him ourselves as a sacrifice that pleases him. This is not a burden but a joy when we remember all that God has done for us. I’ll close with this great passage. 1 John 5:3-4 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
