Dear Family,
Today is Monday, April 29, 2024. It is Day 2 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.
Today is also the LDUB; Happy Holy Day!
When Abraham was one hundred years old, God gave Abraham the son of promise, Isaac.
Then God gave Isaac two sons, Esau and Jacob. It was through Jacob, later to be named Israel, that twelve sons and their children eventually grew into twelve prolific tribes, called the great nation of Israel.
Ancient Israel found themselves in Egyptian bondage through an important series of events. Joseph, one of Jacob‛s younger sons, was his father‛s favorite. Joseph incurred the wrath of his brothers by sharing a dream God had given to him, a dream that prophesied Joseph‛s supremacy over his brothers, an event that was to transpire in their lifetime.
The brothers were enraged at what they perceived as pride and arrogance. They were also filled with jealousy when Jacob gave Joseph a unique coat of many colors. They nearly murdered him, but finally decided to sell Joseph into slavery into Egypt. Of course, this was all part of the plan God had for the tribes of Israel. In response to a famine, Jacob‛s sons went into Egypt to buy grain. There they met the second man in control of Egypt. They did not recognize him as their brother. In time, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and all of Jacob‛s family settled in Egypt. For some time, they thrived and prospered in Egypt in peace. But, finally the Egyptians grew afraid of the tribes and enslaved them.
When Abraham‛s ancient physical descendants found themselves in Egyptian bondage, they cried out to God for deliverance. Abraham knew this was going to happen because God had told him many years earlier. And, Scripture shows us the events occurred just as God had prophesied. The Bible accurately describes the details and the timing of the slavery/bondage ancient Israel endured and the deliverance God provided in the Exodus.
Genesis 15:13 And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Acts 7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
Israel‛s Exodus from Egypt is a real and extremely important historical reality that happened to Abraham‛s physical children. God guided what happened to ancient Israel and has recorded specific details about the crucial details as lessons and warnings for His chosen people today.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Utilizing the Word that God spoke and required Moses to record in the Torah, we can more fully understand God‛s marvelous plan for ancient Israel and for God‛s people today. What happened to the ancient physical Israelites during their bondage and deliverance is a foreshadowing of what happens as God works with His chosen people today.
Our God is so marvelous. He has a plan for EVERYONE! He knows exactly what He is doing, and He reveals what He is doing to His servants the prophets as He moves His plan forward.
Amos 3:6 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
@ Copyright 2024, Church of the Sovereign God
