June, 1937
THE K I NG ' S BUS I NE S S
216
IN T E R N A T IO N A L L E S S O N Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y G retchen S ibley B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , Dean, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
Whoever it was who succeeded him appar ently was of the same mind and continued the persecution, and even made the bond age harder to bear (v. 23). Finally the sorrows and distress of the people became so great that they cried out, and their cry was heard by God (v. 23). Whether they cried unto God or not is not told us, but God hears every cry caused by injustice and suffering. It may sometimes appear that 'God is slow in answering cries of dis tress, but we must remember that there are other purposes involved than the immedi ate relief of the sufferers. In these verses there are four words to which particular attention is directed, and they should be noted carefully in thinking of any injustice upon earth, whether it be governmental, economic, or industrial. First, God heard the groaning. There is never a sigh from a human heart that does not find an echo in the heart of God. When God walked on earth in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, He wept in the presence of human suffering. Always God is hurt when man is hurt. Second, God remembered His covenant. Whatever appearances may be, there is constant remembrance on God’s part of every promise He has made, and each promise will certainly be faithfully ful filled in its own proper time. Third, God looked upon the people. No injustice is hidden from His eyes, no mat ter what devices are adopted by men in an effort to hide it from the eyes of others. Fourth, God had respect to the sufferers. The grinding heel of economic injustice and the hard rigor of unjust government stir God’s heart and move His hand to action. There is nothing more sure than coming retribution upon all those who, for private and personal gain, take advantage of the weak and impose unjust and unrighteous conditions upon the defenseless. Points and Problems 1. "The land was filled with them” (Ex. 1:7). Not the whole land of Egypt is meant here, but the land of Goshen, that particu lar section of Egypt assigned to the Isreal- ites. 2. “ A new king . . . which knew not Joseph” (v. 8). As has been suggested in former notes, the reason, humanly speak ing, for the favorable reception of Joseph’s family into Egypt was the presence there of a foreign dynasty of kings, the Hyksos, who had invaded Egypt and who were hated by the native Egyptians. From arch eological records we know that these in vaders werei at last expelled from the land. The rise of the “new king” is doubtless the Biblical notice of the change in dynasties,
JULY 4, 1937 GOD HEARS A PEOPLE’ S CRY E xodus 1:1-22; 2:23-25
God was to bring Israel into the land of promise, but He would not act in haste. God deals justly with all, and He will never bring final judgment upon any until abundant opportunity for repentance has been allowed. Even Satan is being given time, as is the human race, to fill to the full the cup of iniquity before God will take final action. Thus it was that the Lord would keep His people in Egypt, even though their bondage there involved afflic tion for them and for Him, for He would deal justly with His enemies. Third, there was idolatry in Israel. The people had partaken of the evil practices of the land and were in danger of settling down in their enjoyment of them (cf. Ezek. 20:5-9; Josh. 24:14). But, for the child of God, there can be no true happiness apart from fellowship with the Lord. Fourth, through these experiences, the Lord would teach a lesson that all the world might learn (cf. Rom. 9:17). He had a purpose which was confined neither to Israel nor to the Egyptians: it was that the world might learn the truth concerning God and might give Him glory. For this cause, this particular king was placed upon the throne of Egypt at a particular time. It should be noted carefully that this Pharaoh was raised to the throne for that special purpose, not raised up to life for that purpose. The afflictions of the people took the form of rigorous labor, and it was sup posed that because of the hardships, the people would cease to prosper. But the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied (v. 12). It has ever been true that, with God’s people, times of persecution have been times of actual or spiritual growth. Affliction weans the child of God from the world and draws him to his Lord. III. T he C ry of the P eople (2:23-25) The death of that particular Pharaoh brought no relief to the children of Israel.
Lesson Text: Ex. 1:6-14; 2:23-25. Golden Text: “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isa. 65:24). Outline and Exposition I. T he I ncrease of the P eople (1:6, 7) A s long as Joseph and his generation lived, the children of Israel re mained a comparatively small group —too small to awaken alarm among the Egyptians. But God had promised that they should become a great people in that land, and the time of the fulfillment of that pro mise drew near (Acts 7:17). The people became “ fruitful, and in creased [literally, ‘swarmed’] abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty” (v. 7). The astonishing increase was a part of the purpose of God. The ebb and flow of any population is governed, not by rulers, dictators, or other earthly gov ernors, but by the will of God. II. T he M isery of the P eople (1:8-14) The cause of the misery was fourfold. First, there was ignorance on the part of the Egyptians (vs. 8, 9). The “new” king is described as “ another” one (Acts 7:18), that is, one of a different dynasty. Joseph had been dead for many years and hence was practically unknown to the new auth orities. Even though the record of his ad ministration was known by some, his peo ple would be counted as enemies of the new ruling house, because of their former friendship with the old leaders. The ignor ance of the Egyptians was revealed when the new king endeavored to limit the growth of the Hebrew race by means of affliction. In attempting to deal “ wisely,” in reality he dealt ignorantly. He followed the only light he had, that of reason, and went astray. His rationalism issued in folly, cruelty, and cowardice (cf. vs. 12, 15, 16, 22). The way which seems right to a man is often not the right way from God’s point of view (cf. Prov. 16:25; Judg. 21:25). It is still true that “it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” Jer. 10:23). Second, “ the iniquity of the Amorites” was “not yet full” (cf. Gen. 15:13-16). ['These lessons are developed from out lines prepared by the Committee on Im proved Uniform Lessons of the Interna tional Council. The outlines are copy righted by the International Council of Religious Education and used by permis sion .— E ditor .]
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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