Joseph arrived in Egypt a slave but eventually rose to high position. His family enjoyed favor there during his life, but after they died, “there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). This began oppression of the Hebrews that would not end until Moses led them out years later.
After the death of Jesus we can look at Egypt and see that our world today is the same — lying in wickedness.
Most of today’s leaders know not Jesus, but they represent the god of this world — Satan. Looking back at the Jews in Egypt gives us a plain, though painful, picture of what the backsliding Christian experiences today.
The world today has become the house of bondage to us. At first we were in the land of Canaan, “a land which the Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it …” (Deuteronomy 11:12).
By looking at their lives while in Egypt, we can see our today. It was a sorrowful position they were in.
–They were friendless. “Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all their generation” (Exodus 1:6). Those who go from this world must sooner or later part the fellowship with Jesus and their brethren.
–They were faithless. “And they said unto them, the Lord look upon you and judge: because ye have made our savour (scent) to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us” (Exodus 5:21).
–They were hopeless. This is so true when you are in this world without Jesus. Ephesians 2:12 says, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God, in this world.”
Without faith there is no hope; with no hope there is no friendship with him.
– They served an enemy. “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. They built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses” (1:11). We also serve those who seek our destruction, helping the ungodly to strengthen their hands.
So what happens when we are outside the kingdom of God? Matthew 12:30 reads, “He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathered not with me scattereth abroad.”
We see in Exodus 5:13, “And the taskmasters hasted (hurried) them, saying fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.” Theirs was a joyless, thankless work.
We go around today doing what the world needs to be fulfilled. What a cruel master is the god of this world. Children of this world, your taskmaster is all work and no play.
– They served with misery. The cities they built for Pharaoh were built with forced labor, not love, but by fear of the oppressor’s lash. Today, poor sinners struggling to do good works, to earn a little peace of mind, you are under a law that can only reward you with misery.
Their very misery helped to work out for them a great deliverance. Grace has gained a victory when the devil’s bondslaves have seen no help for them except in God.
God heard their cries (Exodus 2:24). God is quick to notice the moving of the hearts of the oppressed. He is faithful to his promise. “Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you” (Psalm 50:15).
God looked down from Heaven, and his love shows that he had full knowledge of their, and our, needs. Also God saw their, and our, real need. He sent down his son to us. “I am come down to deliver them,” God tells Moses (Exodus 3:8). Years later, Jesus said, “The son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
If you think your world is bad today, read Exodus and see how God can work for you.
Merriman is pastor of First Baptist Church in Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
