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by Sandy Shaw
In Exodus Chapters 1,2 , the Hebrew people began to grow and multiply and increase – becoming a real threat to Egypt – and tensions rise. Whenever you get a minority group increasing and growing it can become a threat. Are we not seeing that in our own nation in these times?
A new Pharaoh was on the throne – a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. Kings come and go – but the people of God continue and grow. This Pharaoh thought – if you oppress the people and burden them – they will not have many children – and we read that the very opposite happened. They suffered – persecution – genocide – they were whipped beaten lashed – but they were not overwhelmed and crushed.
It was the men who were the problem to the authorities in Egypt, and Pharaoh thought that if he could get rid of all the males then he could have all the women and children incorporated into Egypt – and they would then be easily absorbed – and soon there would no longer be a Hebrew people. All the male infants were to be killed at birth.
These midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh – and God blessed them and rewarded them. Here we see a right and good fear and the right way to deal with a serious situation. The fear of God is healthy. – the fear of God is enriching – the fear of God bring reward and blessing.
Proverbs 9 verse 10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Exodus is an exciting and amazing account of what happened as God intervened – and it is worthy of serious careful study. You may never have read the account in this way previously. Let it speak to you and let it even speak through you to a world that does not understand the value of life.
There had been much suffering in Egypt as this wicked ruler Pharaoh, puts to work an entire Hebrew nation who ought never to have been there in the first place.
There is such suffering around our world today and we need a leader who is able to lead and to lead well and to lead ably. One was on the way, but it took a long time for him to appear.
Why does God allow this? Why does God permit such suffering? It can be highly profitable to look at what has been called the mystery of suffering.
Why did God permit this to happen, and part of that answer must be – Justice! That might shock some people.
God permitted these Hebrew people to go down to Egypt for food during the time of Joseph, but they should not have remained there.
Pharaoh issued a decree that all the Hebrew baby boys should be killed as soon as they are born. Today, we do not even wait until they are born!
This sort of thing can happen when we wander away from Jesus Christ and His Word, and the nations of the world are experiencing the tragic and painful consequences of that in these present days.
“Gracious God – loving Father – enable us to understand the profound spiritual lessons which are beginning to emerge already in these early words of Exodus. We remember before You the many thousands around the world who are sorely persecuted, for their faith in Jesus Christ – for those imprisoned – removed from their homes – those who have been converted and born again and rejected by their families. We pray for the agencies that seek to minister to persecuted disciples of Jesus – Release International, Open Doors, Barnabas Aid – hear us as we pray and give to support this vital work – in Jesus’ Name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
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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