Title: The Prosperity and Suffering of Israel
Israel's prosperity and suffering
There are day and night in our life. There are times of prosperity and times of hardship. There are some differences from person to person. Some enjoy a little more days of prosperity and peace, while others experience more hardships and trials. But this cycle of prosperity and suffering is not without exception. Today's text also talks about the prosperity and suffering of the chosen people of Israel who went down to Egypt. These words tell us what the prosperity and suffering of God's children are in this world. This morning, I want to receive God's word together with the title of "Prosperity and Suffering of Israel".
I. Think about the prosperity of Israel, the chosen people.
70 Jacob's family emigrated to Egypt due to a famine in the land of Canaan. At the time of the Exodus, about 400 years later, there was a large nation of 600,000 men of men, and 23 million including the elderly, women and children. Verse 7 says, “The children of Israel were fruitful and multiplied and multiplied and became very strong, and the whole land was filled with them.” It tells of the prosperity of the chosen people of Israel.
First, the prosperity of Israel, the chosen people, was the fulfillment of God's promise. God promised that Abraham and his descendants would multiply like the stars in the sky and like the sand on the seashore. It is the fulfillment of God's promise that the children of Israel prospered and became a great nation. Israel's prosperity is what God did to fulfill his promise to Abraham. Our God is sure to fulfill what he promised once, and the God who promised to Abraham made a promise to us today as well. It was promised through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross to bear all our curses and to bless us. So we can enjoy the blessing of prosperity in Jesus Christ.
Second, the obedience of Israel, the chosen people, is God's reward. Our God is a God of reward. He is a good God and a good Father who delights in blessings and repays them according to their deeds. Especially when God's children live according to God's Word, He rewards them. The prosperity of Israel, the chosen people, is God's reward for Abraham's obedience. Also, two Hebrew midwives, Shipbra and Buah, disobeyed the command of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to kill boys when they were born as an Israeli annihilation plan. They feared God and saved the boy. At this time, it was said that God made their homes prosperous. (Exodus 1:21) Today, he rewards those who fear God and obey God's word with grace and blessing.
Third, the obedience of Israel, the chosen people, has God's holy purpose. God wanted Israel to prosper and form a community of chosen people, that God's name would be glorified through this community of chosen people. Dear all! Why does God give prosperity to His children? The reason is to glorify God alone with the blessings that God has given, to sanctify God's name, and to work through the gospel.
Ⅱ. Think about the sufferings of the chosen people of Israel.
The prosperity and peace of the chosen people of Israel did not last forever. Because Israel was so prosperous, Pharaoh became afraid and persecuted the Israelites. This is purely a satanic conspiracy. However, this satanic conspiracy was unsuccessful. Through the fact that the bush is on fire but does not disappear, he showed that Israel will not perish no matter how much they suffer in Egypt (Exodus 3:2). Satan tries to destroy God's children through suffering, but God turns the suffering into a good one. What are the benefits of suffering?
First, because of suffering, I cried out and prayed. If the Israelites had been at peace without suffering, they would not have prayed. However, because of extreme suffering, I prayed out loud, and that prayer came up, and I received God's great grace because of the suffering. Dear all! Please keep in mind that the time of trouble is the time to cry out and pray. Are you having trouble now? Are you having a hard time? Please cry out and pray.
Second, in the midst of suffering, I met God. Where did the angel of the LORD appear? Not in the Rose Garden. Thorn is among the flames. When can I meet God? We can meet when we are in a difficult time, when we are in a difficult situation, and when we reach the limit that we cannot endure as a human being than when we are at peace and prosper.
During the third hardship, I had a desire for Canaan. If the Israelites had continued to prosper and prosper in Egypt, they would not have thought of Canaan. The people of Israel restored the dream of Zion because of their suffering in Egypt. Suffering is God's grace and blessing that makes His children yearn for the kingdom of heaven.
Dear all! I hope that this morning, God's children will clearly understand the meaning of prosperity and suffering on this earth. So, thank God in this time of prosperity, and I pray that you will use the blessings He has given you for the sake of the gospel. Also, I pray that you will not become discouraged even in times of trouble and pray that you will become a saint who will receive greater blessings.