FEAR NOT TO GO DOWN INTO EGYPT

Egypt today remains a place of great interest to all. It has a very rich history with many great artifacts to see and to be discovered in spite of the fact that many have been stolen or otherwise removed from its shores. Egypt has had its place in the annals of Scripture from a very early age; first as a place of sustenance for God’s chosen people during times of famine and a place of refuge for Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus. Abraham was the first to go into Egypt during a famine and his son Isaac would have gone there to during another famine, but God stopped him. Next to go was Joseph; taken there against his will; to prepare the way for Israel (Jacob) and his entire household during another famine. This time we see God instructing Jacob to go down into Egypt (Genesis 12: 10, 26: 1 – 2, 37: 26 - 28 & 41: 57 to 47: 28). Egypt a place of plenty had been used by God to sustain His chosen people in troubled times; but it was the source of great trials and tribulations, oppressions, afflictions, mayhem and destructions and bondage for them. The Egyptians made slaves of them and punished them greatly making their lives bitter. The whole nation of Israel became resident in Egypt; suffering afflictions for 400 years until the day God brought them out with a mighty hand. Their sufferings and deliverance were all a part of God’s master plan (Genesis 15: 13) in revealing Himself to the people He had chosen for His inheritance.  Jesus was taken to Egypt as it was God’s plan that he would be called out of Egypt to fulfill the Scripture: “out of Egypt have I called my Son” (Hosea 11: 1 & Matthew 2: 13 – 15). Moses was used by God to save Israel from bondage in physical Egypt. Christ came as Savior of all from spiritual Egypt.

The Christian life today mirrors that of the Jews in Egypt, in bondage, suffering great afflictions. There is an Egypt experience for each of us with a degree of fear associated with it. It may be one where the desire was or is for bread on the table but it’s punctuated with deceptions as was the case with Abraham where he lied about his wife, fearing for his life. It may be one where you have been forced to live under oppression and bondage like Joseph and subsequently all Israel. It may be one where you have to run away to save your life, only to be sent back to do the will of the Father, as was the case with Moses. It may be that it’s from Egypt that you will be called to Discipleship and must of necessity sojourn there for a while. May be God wants to reveal His love, power and might to you to get your undivided attention, just as He did in the presence of all Israel by bringing them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Each of us will have our unique Egypt experience; some worse than others. Many having been delivered are still be looking back to Egypt when difficulties arise; just as the Children of Israel did: and would have gone back when they remembered the food they had in the land of Egypt. You may of necessity; be trying to go into Egypt because what you want is there, but God is telling you just as He told Isaac: “Go not down into Egypt” (Genesis 26: 2). Still: there comes a time when each of God’s children must go into that Egypt experience. Fear will have us doing everything to avoid our Egyptian journey, but God is saying to each one of us; just as He told Israel: “I am God, the God of your father: fear not to go down into Egypt; I will go down with you into Egypt and I will also surely bring you up again” (Genesis 46: 3 - 4). Whatever may be your experience; the Israelites had to endure Egypt and so must you. “FEAR NOT TO GO DOWN INTO EGYPT”. Know that God will bring you out with a mighty hand; out of Egypt will he call you: His son, just as He called His Son and your Savior: Jesus the Christ.

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W. Bennett