Original Entry Date 11/19/2021:
(3/13/2021: Some symbolic background that I’ve learned over the years in church, small groups, Bible Study, etc…
In the Bible Egypt is a symbolic representation of the World, people of the world, worldliness, in a spiritual sense; just as those who believe in Christ Jesus are symbolically represented as Israel or “His chosen people.” That is why in Exodus, when God frees His people, Israel, from the bondage of Egypt, it is a representation of how He frees us from the world when we choose to follow Christ.
It also symbolizes the end times, as well, with the plagues, etc..I don’t have a specific entry about all that so perhaps there will be one in the future.)
God has sent His servant, Moses, along with Aaron to redeem His people from the bondage of Egypt. They, at first, attempt to come in peace to Pharaoh and make known to him the commands of the Lord. Take note of the response of Pharaoh and how he is symbolic of the spiritual world existing today.
Exodus 5:1-5 NRSV:
Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
Just like the world, there is a spiritual blindness that covers the eyes, and a spiritual numbness in the heart of people of the people who reside their. The people of the world cannot understand God so how, if they don’t understand, would they heed His Word?
Exodus NSRV
3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!” 5 Pharaoh continued, “Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!”
Even after Moses testifies to Pharaoh that the Lord has revealed Himself to them he counts it as a fable and a means of distraction for the laborers.
(3/13/2021: Have you experienced a time when you were choosing to put more time into God like setting time apart to read/pray, maybe go to a Bible Study or lead one, etc…you begin to devote this time to God and suddenly at some point something comes up to pull your time and energy away from this [having to work overtime, shift hour changes, having to take care of a family member, etc..]? Not to say, any of those are bad but it’s interesting how things “pop up” to take us away from devotional time with the Lord. Kind of like how Pharaoh [ruler of the world] combats against Moses and Aaron [both are types of Christ] stating that they are taking the people of Israel [Christ followers] away from their work [labors of the world].)
Exodus 5:6-9 NSRV:
6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words.”
Here is a symbolization of how the darkness of the world works against us in ways today. The enemy of our souls wants to hinder us as much as possible from doing the will of God. In the same way Pharaoh accused Moses and Aaron of creating a diversion, the enemy will actually do himself. He will try to cause a distraction with our spiritual duties.
People of today work A LOT, the more we do, the more we are praised as an example of a mature and responsible adult. When I say work I mean anything we have to do to live our lives here such as working a job, going to school, raising a family, etc..
Because these are MUSTS for living life we can be weighed down by more and more responsibilities. Not that any of these are bad but you know the enemy is loving when we can’t put as much time into God because we have to work extra overtime to complete an important project with the hopes of getting the big promotion at the end of the month.
Just like Pharaoh set more labor on the people of Israel so will the world do to us. It is an attempt to cause us to be consumed by it rather than being consumed by our relationship with God.
Responsibilities are WONDERFUL and can be great blessings from God! I, personally, think it is important to keep it balanced, don’t take on too much if you can help it and if changes occur keep yourselves devoted to time with Him.
He is the one who will help you succeed in any new responsibilities so lean on Him for strength and He will bring it about.
