Exodus 1 -- When The Heat Is Turned Up

“Then a new king began to rule Egypt, who did not know who Joseph was.”  With God’s help, Joseph had saved the Egyptian people from famine, but somewhere along the way, this vital part of their history had failed to be recorded or revisionists had conveniently removed the inconvenient truth that foreigners had saved Egypt from ruin.

 

Instead of seeing them as a blessing, Egyptians began to look upon their Jewish guests with suspicion, worrying that in a war they might side with the enemy or even leave the country, thus taking a powerful economic force with them.

 

“They made their lives bitter,” probably thinking this would take care of the problem by attrition.  Yet the Israelites seemed to thrive as the work got tougher!  Pharaoh resorted to ordering the Israelite midwives to kill all baby boys, until that failed as well, and then he enlisted his own people to spy out and drown newborn Hebrew boys.

 

My Bible’s sidebar says, “If we are faithful, we will persevere and overcome the challenges placed before us.  God will not abandon us in tough times, and we should not abandon Him.”

 

Father, Satan certainly appears to be targeting me and my family, as I knew he would when I was placed on the music minister search committee.  It seems to be ratcheting up every day.  Father, protect us from his attacks.  Help me not to give up.  Allow us to see Your blessings in the middle of all this.  Keep me focused on You and show my boys how You are in control and loving them as You care for us!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford