Coming Out of Egypt Billy Wolford During Israel’s exodus from Egypt human nature was on display. God’s people must look beyond the present and remain focused on the future.
T he journey of an ancient slave na- tion is famous the world over. Nu- merous books, articles, plays and Hollywood movies have been cre- ated to recount the events regarding the Exodus of ancient Israel. How- ever, this is not just a story for our entertainment or amusement. There are powerful examples for everyone of God’s chosen people to consider and apply. The apostle Paul reminded the Church that ancient Israel’s story was written for their admonition. In 1 Corinthians 10:5–6 , he writes: But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Again in verses 10–11, Paul warns: Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were de - stroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. What was recorded in Scripture was written for God’s people today. It was preserved so those alive in the last days could learn from it. Try to imagine what it would have been
like to live as an Israelite in ancient Egypt—living with little more than a makeshift roof and just a single change of clothing. Food was what- ever your taskmasters handed you. Each day began at sunrise and end- ed only after darkness fell. The la- bor never stopped: gathering mud, mixing straw, forming bricks. And if you didn’t meet the quota, the whip did the talking. No sick days. No days off. No pay. No future. Just the same grinding misery day after day, year after year. Then, suddenly, a man appears in your camp with astonishing news: God is going to deliver you from slavery. How would you respond? Would you believe it? Many of us would struggle to accept something so outlandish just as ancient Israel did. Yet, spiritually, that is exactly what God is doing with His people today. Those in God’s Church are called out of a kind of Egypt—out of slavery to sin. Christians are to depart from the norms of society,
our own vanity, lusts, and from the influence of Satan himself. More To The Story When Moses first appeared on the scene, life did not get easier—it got harder. Pharaoh responded to God’s command by increasing the burdens. The Israelites now had to gather their own straw while still producing the same number of bricks. And just as conditions wors- ened, the plagues began. The Nile turned to blood. Slimy frogs covered the land. Lice filled the air like dust. Flies swarmed Egypt—but not the Israelites. Egyp- tian livestock died, while Israel’s animals remained healthy. Boils broke out on the Egyptians and their beasts, but not on God’s people. A storm of hail and fire ravaged Egypt while Goshen remained untouched. Locusts swept across the land like a dark veil, destroying every green thing. Then came a thick, oppres- sive darkness—so deep it could be felt. For three days, the Egyptians did not move. Yet in the homes of Israel, there was light. Finally came a sobering instruction: kill a lamb, place its blood on the doorposts and lintel, and stay inside. Without that blood, the firstborn in every home—human and animal— would die. Imagine witnessing such miracles firsthand. And yet, God works miracles for His chosen peo- ple too as He leads them out of spir- itual Egypt. He gives a supernatural
8
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online