Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from the “Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide”, is titled “Israel in Egypt”. The quarterly does a good job of looking at the events after Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers until Joseph lies in his coffin at age 110. I hope this week’s study has proved to be a blessing to you all. For this week’s “thought” I would like to look at Egypt. And look at what it had become to the children of Israel in the intervening years between Joseph and Moses.
The early history of Egypt proved it to be a pagan culture. Not only did they worship the Nile River and all kinds of animals. They primarily worshipped “Ra” the sun god. And as we know, sun-worship was the grossest and most debauched... worshipping the fertility of your own bodies in the most lascivious and obscene manner. Not only this, but the union of church and state was absolute. Even the name of Pharaoh reveals how their earthly potentate bore the very name of the sun-god in his title (Pha-RA-oh… from the Hebrew meaning “the sun”). In fact, in Scripture, the very name “Egypt” is synonymous with wickedness and opposition to God, and synonymous with Sodom. Of the Lord’s “two witnesses” it is said that “their dead bodies will lie in the street of that great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11:8). That the Israelites in Egypt took part in its wickedness and idolatry, and that they were prevented by force from serving God is evident from several texts of Scripture.
In the first place, when Moses was sent to deliver Israel, his message to Pharaoh was, “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus says the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, let my son go, that he may serve me” (Exodus 4: 22-23). The object of deliverance from Egypt was that Israel might serve the Lord, evidence that they were not serving Him there. Psalm 105: 42-45 expresses the same sentiment.
But strongest of all the evidence that Israel had joined in the idolatry of Egypt is found in the reproach for their not forsaking it found in Ezekiel 20: 5-8.
“And say unto them, Thus says the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God; In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: Then said I unto them, cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt”
Sadly, the abominations of Egypt have not been "cast away" (ibid) unto this very day. The darkness that overspread Egypt at the time of the plagues was no more dense than the darkness that Egypt has cast over the whole earth. That physical darkness was but a vivid representation of the moral darkness into which the people had fallen, and of that which has since come to all generations since from that wicked country.
Our only hope is to listen and then follow our God. The Bible account is a long history of God’s leading and His children following. More or less faithfully. But following, nonetheless. Each of us today can be influenced by our prevailing pagan culture. Each of us today is susceptible to the same pull to hearken to the same “idols of Egypt” (ibid). The only remedy? Hold tight to our Father… our God. And engage in the “big three” as evidenced by the Tabernacle service instituted by God for the people as they left Egypt (and for us as we too leave spiritual “Egypt).
Having died with “the lamb of God” at the Brazen Altar and then having been baptized at the Laver, we then enter the Sanctuary with our High Priest who figuratively carries each of us on his heart (the breastplate) and in the shed blood. Entering the Tabernacle, we study the written Word and meditate on the Living Word (Table of Showbread). We commune with our God through prayer (altar of incense). And we consciously allow the Holy Spirit lead us to action and obedience (candlestick = let your light shine before men). These are the big three given by our Father God for the refugees from Egypt… all of us refugees from Egypt for all time. God knows us. And knows the pagan-pull Egypt has on us. So, He gives us tangible things to do. Important things. Spiritual things to break the thrall of Egypt in our hearts.
As I close this thought, let us not neglect the very means God has given us to heal us from spiritual Egypt. Heal us from hedonism, from self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. And convert us into true children of our God who love like our Father. Egypt in our heart must be supplanted by Love in our heart. Must. Every latent trace of Egypt, if left intact in our hearts/ minds and cherished, will ultimately cause our ruin.
“And let none flatter themselves that sins cherished for a time can easily be given up by and by. This is not so. Every sin cherished weakens the character and strengthens habit; and physical, mental, and moral depravity is the result. You may repent of the wrong you have done, and set your feet in right paths; but the mold of your mind and your familiarity with evil will make it difficult for you to distinguish between right and wrong. Through the wrong habits formed, Satan will assail you again and again” (Christ Object Lessons pg. 281). “One darling sin cherished will defile the soul as one drop of ink will color a basin of water” (Counsel to Physicians and Medical Students pg. 167).
Beware! Egypt is alive and well in the hearts/ minds of individuals in our culture. In your heart/ mind. In my heart/ mind. Let us daily go to the brazen altar and laver. And then into the Holy Place with our God. It is His Divine remedy. Ours for the asking and the taking… if we will.
With brotherly love,
Jim