Have we as people learned from our history? You would think so, yet Biblical accounts show otherwise. It seems that the sins of God’s people were the same, coming in cycles, differing only in the increased severity of their heart filled conditions.
The Bible tells us that during Joseph’s time, the Hebrew people enjoyed peace and prosperity in the land of Egypt. Then Joseph and the Pharoah die. Over time, new kings take the throne, eventually forgetting the history leading to their times. Archaeologist have uncovered ruins that show that historical events were being recorded, yet all that happened the previous 400 years faded into oblivion. Why? Wasnt someone interested in learning from the past? Isnt that how we prevent like situations from repeating themselves, yet here all was buried and forgotten.
Prejudiced attitudes werent just things of our times. These same attitudes existed from the beginning of time and the story here is a good example. Though the Israelites experienced peace and prosperity during the times of Joseph’s ambassadorship, the Egyptians still looked upon them with suspicion and caution. Think about it – Egypt had reached a height of economic, educational, and religious advancement that surpassed none. They looked upon themselves as superior to all others. The Bible tells us that Joseph instructed his family not to disclose to Pharoah their occupation as shepherds because he knew how the felt about them. How could the Egyptians allow such an inferior people to pollute an elite society? Yet for Joseph’s sake, the Pharoah gave them the best of the land. Dont think this was of pure intent. The Egyptians gave the good, but they also ensured their separation from them.
The Egyptian attitude didnt change over time. It remained deeply rooted in their hearts. Deeply rooted attitudes and forgotten history paved the way to insecurities and fears, hidden by brutality and oppression. No amount of hardship seemed to affect God’s peole. The harder times became, the more they prospered. Where would it all end, so the Pharoah thought???
In one short story of oppression, we learn more lessons than one can count. In Exodus 1, we learn that hard times dont erase God’s promises, that harsh times dont escape God’s notice and that heavy tests dont eclipse God’s concern. God’s promises in Genesis 15 to send a deliverer, Though hundreds of years have passed before Moses popped up on the scene, God didnt forget His promise he made to Abraham earlier.
Exodus 3 tells us that God saw the misery of His people, heard their cry, was concerned about them and as a result came down to rescue them. Oppression and hardship didnt blind God from what was happening to His people no more than it does for us today. Sometimes in our misery, we feel He is far from us, but that is the farthest from the turth. God, I mean, the Holy God came down from heaven to rescue His people. That says alot doesnt it? No matter how great the pain, God cared. No matter the severity of the hurt, He felt the pain and came down to us. Never underestimate the power of God’s love for us.
The Bible tells us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever more. That means that even our tests today will summon God to us. His ears are not deafened to our cries. His eyes see our every agony. His heart feels our every pain and just as in Exodus, He still rescues us from them all.
Tags: Ambassador, Attitudes, Bible, Economics, Education, Egypt, Genesis, God, Heaven, Hebrew, History, Joseph, Kings, Love, Oppression, Pain, Pharoah, Prejudice, Religion, Shepherds
