EXODUS 1 A FAMILY BECOMES A NATION In the record of the life of Israel as a nation, I was reminded that in 430 years a company of seventy people that came into Egypt as a family, had multiplied to 600,000 men beside women and children. That means the children of Israel numbered between two and three million people. That changed them from a family to a nation within a nation. A comparative length of time would be from the landing of the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth, Massachusetts until the present time. The proliferation of population of the children of Israel was not from immigration into Goshen by people of other tribes. The Lord gave the families many children that formed the nation. These were children from one common heritage so the identity of nation was maintained as "the children of Israel." Their allegiance would be to the name the Lord gave as a promise to the patriarchs. Their position in Goshen put them in the first place the Hyksos armies would come to when they threatened the nation of Egypt. The pharaoh of Egypt would be worried Israelis would join the invaders, so put them under the bondage of slavery.
Egypt, because of the fertile strip of land, seven miles wide and 500 miles long that bounded the Nile, would have been quite vulnerable to attack by other nations if it wasn't for the deserts beyond that green strip. Life in Egypt with a great company of slaves to labor for them, would have been comparatively easy. That kind of ease does not produce people of good character. Self-indulgent ease has a tendency to boredom and discontent. It takes the pressures of cold, storms and struggle for survival to make people strong in character and strong in faith. When meaningful labor has to be extended personally, there is developed a strength that goes beyond the physical to the moral. The seduction of prosperity leads to the deception of idolatry. Things become more important than people. Pleasure becomes more important than labor. My own opinions become more important than faith in God. Prosperity eats away like a cancer at morality. The dangers in "Egypt" are far more serious and far-reaching than we can imagine. "The world" is an enemy to the children of God.
God's people are "called out of Egypt." It may be necessary to remove the legitimate things we have that give us a life of ease and comfort in order to get us out of the magnetic pull of the world-system that cannot please God. The "god of this world" will continue to blind the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel ... shines in."
Opposition and oppression against the people of God is allowed by God to make us awaken to the character of the "cosmos." It may seem unfair when the "wicked prosper." The bitterness of one's lot in life may pressure us to the breaking point. But like Israel had to be made discontent with the "leeks, melon and garlic" of Egypt, so we who are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, can never find our contentment in worldly success.
Some dangers that come from success in the world are first of all pride of accomplishment. Dissatisfaction with what we have personally, and what we have in Christ is another result of worldliness. Comparison with others in the world, including the rich and the famous who are esteemed because of their own efforts, will make a believer to look beyond what we have in Christ to empty bubbles that are unseen. To live by faith in Christ means the way up is down; the way to get is to give; the way to happiness is weeping; the way to live is to die. Under the faithful pressures of our heavenly Father, there comes a garden out of the wilderness, bounty out of the watered desert. There is a city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God. The greatness of the redeemed soul is that it bears the characteristics of our God, not the world around.
Egypt-living will make a slave out of one who pursues its way. It will seek to claim our children and grandchildren and the generations following them, and entice them to follow its covetous, immoral, ungodly way of living. If one resists, there will be such antagonism that our children and those who follow will be cast into the river and be dead to God and His grace forever. The world and its leader will never allow compatible living between one who follows its ways, and one who "takes up his cross daily" and follows Christ. The true
Christian craves much more than the fleshpots of Egypt. God offers deliverance from the slavery the world has and gives us the liberty of "abundant life" through true commitment to Christ.
They started small, there was only a few who were known as Israel's sons. Four hundred and thirty years later they a large nation had become. Yet in an unusual way God had them keep their own identity That He might make of them a nation - a kingdom of priests to be.
Slavery is usually painful because our will has to submit to another. A slave to people or habits keeps one bound by an unbreakable tether. However, there is one slavery that is blessed, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. Such a favor it is that to be His slave is like a lovers' tryst.
In an antagonistic world, we need to recognize His authority. Even though I live and work here, the Lord has a higher claim on me. Often things go smoothly, but inevitably there will come a test. It is allowed by God to train me, and to see if I love Him best.
The siren call of the world's pleasure does have a little attraction - But I know from watching those who seek it, it gives little satisfaction. Popularity and fame try to tempt me into thinking this is the way - The God who I know and serve, delivers from its pressure and sway.
The children and grandchildren I have are a constant concern of mine. I know that what they need in life, in the world-system they will never find. So, I pray daily, yea, constantly they will only find their joy in the Lord. And they will commit themselves personally to conduct life by God's Holy Word.
The world does attract the senses and the senses attract the mind. I know that no matter what it offers, true peace one will never find By pursuing its ways and will - No! In God I place my faith! Fully confident I am that for every need, He supplies abundant grace.
"Gracious, heavenly Father, as I follow on this journey through the scripture, may I always be impressed as I am today, of the emptiness and futility of seeking satisfaction in the world. My heart is fixed on Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."