Dear Family,
Today is Wednesday, May 1, 2024. It is Day 4 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.
The lessons we learned yesterday from the experiences of Marah are demonstrated in stories throughout the Bible. It is certainly a lesson we can learn from the story of Joseph.
God had arranged before time for the children of Israel to experience living in Egypt.
Interestingly, Joseph was sent into Egypt as a slave. He was placed in Egypt years ahead of time by God‛s design to prepare a place for the rest of Jacob‛s family. Joseph‛s first experiences in Egypt were very bitter indeed.
Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
In Egypt, God had Joseph released from slavery to prepare for what was to come.
Genesis 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph; See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
He gave Joseph great favor and high position in order to store up food to sustain Israel during a famine that was to come upon the entire earth.
Genesis 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 1:1-5 (1) Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. (2) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, (3) Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, (4) Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (5) And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. Eventually, the Pharaoh who knew and trusted Joseph died, and the Israelites grew so vast in number that the Egyptians began to fear them. Bit by bit the Egyptians ensnared Israel in a severe bondage. In time, of course, Israel cried out for release, as God knew they would. And, of course, God responded.
Exodus 2:23-25 (23) And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. (24) And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. (25) And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
Just as God knew Israel would become slaves in Egypt, He also knows that all human beings will eventually become slaves to sin. The bondage Israel endured in Egypt is a symbol of the bondage all humans experience toward sin. We have all sinned and have come to be slaves to sin.
Romans 3:10, 23 (10) As it is written; There is none righteous, no, not one: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
And just as God worked out very precise purposes as He delivered Israel from bondage, revealing Himself as the great God He is, He also works out His purposes as He delivers us from sin and slavery today.
Exodus 6:7 And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
The same is true today in a very real and spiritual sense. God sent ancient Israel a human deliverer the people could see, but it was Almighty God, a Being of covenant and promises, Who truly delivered Israel from Egypt.
Exodus 6:1-8 (1) Then the LORD said unto Moses; Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. (2) And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him; I am the LORD: (3) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by My name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. (4) And I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. (5) And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. (6) Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judgments: (7) And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (8) And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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