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Word from Nairnshire
by Sandy Shaw
Why were these two million Hebrews slaves in Egypt? Why were the children of Israel enduring such hardship?
Joseph had arrived in Egypt 400 years previously and rose to become Prime Minister.
He was wise, efficient and trusted by Pharaoh, but Pharaoh died, as did Joseph and his brothers. The Hebrew people remained and multiplied numerically, and were regarded as real threat to Egypt.
When a minority grow in number they can present problems.
Do you think we might be in similar situation today?
The new king had no sympathy for these Hebrews, and it was as if he chose to forget all the good that Joseph had done for Egypt, and decided to act to eradicate these strangers.
He oppressed them, limited their personal freedom, and recruited their men into forced labour under the supervision of harsh taskmasters.
None of this accomplished Pharaoh’s goals, so he decreed that all newly born male children be killed at birth, and when that failed the decision was made that newly born boys would be thrown into the Nile.
The Hebrews who had been such a help, and a blessing, were now detested.
Pharaoh launched the first pogrom against the children of Israel.
Are there Pharaoh’s around today? Yes, and they can appear in various guises. Many persecute and bully the people of God around our world, but materialism, secularism, apathy and lethargy can do similar work. There are others.
We have here a detailed record of slavery to freedom.
The people of God cried out in their misery. God heard these cries. A leader was born. Moses was raised up, prepared and called to this demanding challenging task.
This is not simply a human story. If it were only human it would have been impossible.
Sandy Shaw
Nairn Christian Fellowship
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Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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