The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Egypt

  • Joshua

    “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

    Joshua 1:9

    Joshua was born a slave in Egypt. He saw the mighty works of God revealed in the ten plagues, providing the exit of the Israelite people out of bondage. Joshua saw the parting of the Red Sea for God’s people, and the destruction of the Egyptian army. About two months later, Moses called upon Joshua to lead an army against the Amalekites. In this battle, as long as Moses’ arms were held high in the air, Joshua was able to lead the people in winning that battle until the enemy was defeated (see Exodus 17:8-16). “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven” (Exodus 17:14). God wanted Moses to write this victory down and remind Joshua. Have you considered that this was done so that Joshua would remember this as he prepared for the battles in the Promised Land?

    Joshua was called Moses’ minister (a servant). “And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God” (Exodus 24:13). This is the time-frame when God gave Moses the “tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written” (see Exodus 24:12). Joshua was with Moses when Moses came down from the mount and saw the golden calf (see Exodus 32:17).

    While the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, Moses set up a special tent where he met with God (before the Tabernacle was built. See Exodus 33:7-11). Joshua stayed in that tent. “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle” (Exodus 33:11).

    Most people remember that Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the Promised Land. Only he and Caleb believed God (see Numbers 15). Joshua was not afraid to stand up with Moses and Caleb against the 10 spies, the majority. Joshua and Caleb revealed that they believed God was greater than the difficulties ahead, and God would defeat the enemies for them. However, because the people listened to the ten spies, God declared they would wander in that wilderness for forty years until that generation died. All died in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb, two who believed God. Even with the delay of 40 years to enter the Promised Land, Joshua stayed with Moses. For those 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua and Caleb watched as the older generation died off, but each day brought them closer to the Promised Land.

    Looking back upon Joshua’s life, notice something. Throughout the wanderings, God was preparing Joshua to be the successor to Moses. Remember the defeat of Og, king of Bashan where Moses encouraged Joshua to not be afraid of his enemies (see Deuteronomy 3:21-28 and Numbers 21:33-35). “21. And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. 22. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22).

    Before Moses died, he revealed God had chosen Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (the land of Cannan). “7. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 8. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8). God would be with Joshua.

    When Moses died and Joshua became the leader of God’s people, God encouraged Joshua. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

    Looking back at Joshua’s life, God had been preparing him for many years for the task at hand.

    First, Joshua had to obey God. We read no hesitation on his part. Even more encouraging is that he completed what God asked him to do. “As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:15). See also: “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war” (Joshua 11:23).

    Remember how Joshua felt at the end of his life. “14. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-15).  

    Have you considered the things God has placed in your live to prepare you for what He has planned for you?

  • Trust in the Lord

    “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”

    Isaiah 50:10

    What can we do when nothing seems to make sense?

    If you belong to Jesus and you feel as if you are walking in the dark, there is an important thing to be understood. Sometimes, Christians recognize that they are living a life pleasing to God, obeying His Word, yet one may still feel as if they are walking in darkness. See what Isaiah teaches us. “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” (Isaiah 50:10). This verse teaches that we can be serving and obeying God and still experience times of darkness where we do not understand what God is doing in our lives. It is then we are to understand that the Christian life will be difficult and often times very lonely.

    It is in these times, as you hold fast to your profession of faith, you must remember the importance of trusting God. However, one will not always be able to understand what is happening. Remember what you should have learned in Proverbs. “5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are to trust God. Just because something does not make sense to us now does not mean it will not make sense later. However, some things may never make sense to us on this side of heaven. “8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Who am I to think I understand things better than God does? These words in Isaiah are a reminder that God knows all, and even when we do not understand, He knows.

    Remember Job. He stood alone in his trying times. Neither his wife nor his friends understood or truly encouraged him during his difficult days (see Job 1:9 to remember his wife’s words).

    When John the Baptist was in prison, he needed encouragement from Jesus (see Matthew 11:2-6).

    Genesis chapter thirty-nine tells the story of a godly young man named Joseph. Joseph had not sinned against God. He had done nothing wrong; he was doing what was right. He was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely imprisoned. He was completely innocent… this did not make sense! Nevertheless, throughout these trying times when Joseph did not understand, Joseph trusted God. He remained faithful to God. Moreover, the men around Joseph recognized God’s hand working in Joseph’s life.

    Joseph did not fully understand what God was doing until Pharaoh called Joseph out of prison to interpret his dreams. It was at this time that Joseph began to understand God’s plan. God had placed Joseph in Egypt at that pivotal time in history. Joseph never forgot the dreams God had given him in his youth where the world’s resources and rulers would be at his feet (see Genesis 37:5-11). God never forgot them, either. Joseph’s dreams came to fruition in God’s perfect timing (see Genesis 41:38-44). Remember how Joseph explained these things to his brothers, years after they had sold him into slavery. “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5). Joseph understood.

    Sometimes God allows things to happen (we feel as if we are living in darkness) for a purpose that we may not understand at the time. Often times when trials come, things we do not understand, we are tempted to quit God. However, remember the following: “5. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:5-9). God will bring us out in His time. Be willing to wait upon the Lord. God knows where you are. God has His schedule. Do not hurry God. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6) Wait upon the Lord, and He will exalt you in His time.

    In the darkness, Joseph held onto what God had promised him. Keep in mind that some of the greatest saints in the Bible walked in darkness for parts of their lives, not fully understanding what God was doing. Darkness did not mean that sin had prevailed. These people simply trusted God and remained faithful. God was with Joseph.

    As you serve Jesus, remember that there is coming a day when God will make everything right. Just because it does not make sense to you now does not mean it will not make sense one day. Trust Him.

    Do you trust the Lord, remaining faithful, waiting for Him to make all things right?

  • The Mediator

    “5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time”
    1 Timothy 2:5-6

    God’s people were in bondage in Egypt (they were slaves). However, God heard them cry out and rose up a mighty deliverer, Moses. Moses appeared before Pharaoh and told him. “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go …” (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh’s response? “… I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2).

    God then revealed Himself with the Ten Plagues. What had God thought of Pharaoh’s rejection of and defiance of Him? “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD” (Exodus 12:12). Not only would God reveal Himself mightily to Pharaoh, but also to His people.

    The tenth, and final, plague was an institution of the Passover, the death of the firstborn. It showed the mighty deliverance of God. The Israelites were to kill a lamb for each house and sprinkle the blood on the doorposts. The death angel would then “pass over” each house whose doorpost was covered with the blood. “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you” (Exodus 12:23). Moses told the people to prepare.

    Read what happened on that night. “29. And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead” (Exodus 12:29-30). The death angel went through the land killing each firstborn. The angel only passed over the houses with the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. After this, Pharaoh finally agreed to let God’s people go.

    This is one of many pictures throughout the Old Testament to reveal that Jesus would give His life for our salvation. See the fulfillment declared in the following Scriptures:

    • “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
    • “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
    • “14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:14-17).
    • “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
    • “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
    • “5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
    •  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Especially note “who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

    Jesus gave Himself a ransom to become the mediator between a perfect God and a sinful people. In these verses, one should understand that because of the one time shedding of blood by Jesus, anyone has the opportunity to be redeemed (saved) – if only one would believe.

    Do you believe Jesus is the Redeemer, your mediator between you, a sinful person, and God?

    How to be Saved