Introduction
The journey that we are about to take through Exodus, is both a fulfilled Word and a great foreshadowing of Word to be fulfilled. As we proceed through the first 20 chapters of this amazing book we must take careful inventory of our hearts. We must examine ourselves and check the condition of our own hearts as we examine the heart of Pharaoh, of Moses, and the children of Israel.
The children of Israel had been enslaved for 400 years when freedom finally came. Now that they are out of Egypt, God has to get Egypt out of them.
We, like these children of Israel, are born in bondage to sin and enslaved to the world and the enemy of our souls. When in and through and by Christ we are set free, we like the children of Israel have to learn what all this freedom means. After we have been taken out of the world, God has to then get the world out of us.
Let us follow the Israelites through these first twenty chapters of Exodus as they learn to live in their freedom. May we take notes as we travel this journey with them and learn from the examples that God has recorded for us in his Word. I pray your eyes and heart will be open to the Spirit of God.
MOSES MEETS THE I AM
Now a new king arose over Egypt,
who did not know Joseph.
Exodus 1:8
Genesis 49:27 and Deuteronomy 10:22 along with Exodus 1:5 tell us that seventy persons from the loins of Jacob came down to Egypt. Of course Joseph first came as a slave. The rest of the family came after God had advanced Joseph to second in command over all of Egypt. Jacob and his family enjoyed many years of peace in Egypt, yet with a new king comes new rules. I believe even Joseph experienced bondage again.
In Genesis 50:24 Joseph is reminding his brothers of the promise given to their father Abraham, the promise of the land. He also reminds them that God will take care of them. Knowing us as people, I would say that the children of Israel are already experiencing hardship from this new king or Joseph would not be reminding them of this promise.
We as humans seem to be perfectly content wherever we are at, as long as things are going good. Like the eagle who has to make the nest uncomfortable so that the eaglets will attempt to fly, so God has to sometimes make where we are uncomfortable so that we too will attempt to fly.
Possibly the sons of Jacob thought that as they grew and multiplied and as Joseph reigned in command life would always be in Egypt. Most likely many began calling Egypt home, forgetting the LORD their God, the God of their fathers, but Egypt was not their home and God is now beginning to remind them of the promise of home.
We live in this world, yet this is not home. Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.”(John 18:36) If we have received Christ and thus entered into His kingdom, then we too are no longer of this world (John 15:19). God tells us in His Word that we are not to love this world nor the things in the world (1John 2:15-17), this world is passing away, and this world is not our home.
If we are believers in Christ our citizenship is in His kingdom (Philippians 3:20) Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation (John 16:33), this tribulation stems from many sources, our on flesh, our enemy Satan, and the fact that this world is fallen and groaning for redemption itself (Romans 8:20-21). As believers our response to the pains of life should not be to grow angry at God, but simply to grow in our desire to be home.
Oh Father,
How easy it is to slip into a state of complacency and apathy in this world. Especially if you live in comfort. Here I am, never truly experienced hunger, never not had a roof over my head, always had a closet full of clothing, never experienced the tyranny of an earthly king, yet how often have I found myself in a heap on the floor with tears streaming down my face praying you would just remove my life breathe from me. How often have I felt overwhelmed by this world, by the things of this world, by the pains of this world. How easy it would be to grow angry at You and attempt to accuse You of not loving me, that is after all how the enemy of my soul wants me to respond, but oh my Father, I cannot. As Job said, “Thou He slay me I will hope in Him”(Job 13:15). This is what I know, I know I have peace with You through Jesus Christ, and because I do I can rejoice in all things, because I know that Your love is poured out on and within me (Romans 5:1-5). In You, my Jesus, this world is not my home, and any pains I suffer just remind me of that fact and cause my anticipation to grow.
My Jesus it is in Your name I pray,
Amen
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