Title: When the children of Israel were multiplied
When the children of Israel became
Starting today, we want to hear the voice of God through the book of Exodus. Here is the message of salvation. Here is the message of promise. Here is the life of the worshiper. The Hebrew word [name] of Exodus is quoted from verse 1 and has the name ‘Woele Shemoth’, which means ‘these are their names’. For short, they are sometimes called seomot (names).
Exodus 19:1 From the time the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the third month, at that time, they came to the wilderness of Sinai. The Book of Exodus [chronology] deals with the history of about 1440-1400 B.C.E. Because it records about 300 years after the death of Joseph, there is a difference of about 300 years between the last chapter of Genesis and the first chapter of Exodus.
The book of Exodus records three [contents].
The first is the history of the Exodus from being saved from the yoke of Egypt, the second is the covenant at Sinai where God made a covenant with the people of Egypt, and the third is the construction of the tabernacle for meeting with God.
When we look at life today, we cannot help but see a life of worldly wealth and hardship just like Egypt. Not only that, we can't help but see people who are separated from God's promises. And we see that we are losing more and more of our lives that come before God. At this time, we would like to hear God's voice as today's voice through the book of Exodus.
The house of Israel, which began about 400 years ago with the family of 70 Jacob, prospered greatly.
Exodus 1:5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy, up to Joseph, who was already in Egypt.
Exodus 1:6 Joseph and all his brothers and all the men of his time died.
Exo 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful and multiplied and multiplied, and became exceedingly great, and the whole earth was filled.
Since there were only 600,000 men and women at the time of the Exodus, we have formed a nation of about 2 to 3 million men, women and children.
300 years passed, and the king of Egypt, ignorant of Joseph's deeds, arose and ruled the country.
Exo 1:8 A new king arose, who did not know Joseph, and reigned over Egypt.
Exodus 1:9 And he said to his subjects, This people, the children of Israel, are greater and stronger than we are.
Exo 1:10 Come on, let us be wise toward them, lest if they become many, they will join us in battle with our enemies and go out of this land when war breaks out.
At that time, the kingdom of Egypt was divided into north and south and it was in a time of turbulence when it was reunified again. At this time, the nation of Israel prospered greatly in the land of Goshen, enough to form a single nation. The Egyptian king could not ignore the fear that would arise if they rebelled against the Egyptian king or joined the enemy army. Moreover, it required a lot of labor to build a city in order to strengthen the national power, and without them, such a task would be difficult. In fact, if you look at paintings unearthed in Egypt, you can see a construction manager standing with a whip in his hand or beating an Israeli slave.
The king of Egypt, in order to prevent Israel from prospering too much, puts a lot of hard work on them, leading to exhaustion. It was the so-called hard work that reduced fertility.
Exodus 1:11 And he set over them the overseers, and burdened them with burdens, and made them to build the state treasuries of Pidom and Rameses for Pharaoh.
Exodus 1:12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and multiplied, and the Egyptians were grieved over the children of Israel.
Exodus 1:13 Strict history of the children of Israel
Exodus 1:14 The toils that made their lives difficult, such as making clay, baking bricks, and various kinds of farming. All the work they were asked to do was strict. As we see in verse 12, the more they were abused, the more Israel multiplied and increased. But the life they reproduce and prosper is not the purpose. People often aim to live well. People often want their children to prosper. It can be a process but not an end.
The time has come for God to reveal his purpose. What is the hope of the nation of Israel now? 400 years ago, Joseph came to Egypt because of a God-given dream. Now is the time for Israel to find the dream that God has planted.
<1> God made them seek hope from heaven. A tool called adversity was used for this.
Romans 5:3 And not only this, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, for afflictions bring perseverance,
Romans 5:4 Knowing that perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.
Without these adversity, they would not have easily stepped foot into the land of Canaan, which was led through Moses. You say you like it here, but how are you going to suffer?
<2>The purpose of this was to get rid of childish work.
Ephesians 4:13 And we will all become one in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, until we become a complete man, to the stature of the stature of the stature of Christ.
Ephesians 4:14 This is so that we will no longer be children, so that we may not fall into the tricks of men and the deceitful temptations of men, and be driven and tossed by every wind of doctrine. Put off childish thoughts and childish things, and make them grow into Christ.
<3> The purpose of this was to experience the power of God.
2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our comfort also abounds through him.
1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let it be as if he were speaking the word of God; if anyone would serve, let him do it with the power that God supplies.
The greater their suffering, the more amazing the miracles God performed. When they came to the Red Sea and faced a dilemma, God parted the Red Sea and opened the way.
So the book of James says: James 5:13 Is any of you afflicted? Let him pray. Is there anyone who rejoices? Let him sing praise. This is the message to meet the Lord in trouble, and rejoice in the Lord in peace. However, on the contrary, we often see cases where they blame the Lord during hardship and do not seek the Lord when they are in peace. This is unfortunate. It should be a life that hopes for the Lord in times of trouble and praises the Lord more in times of peace. This is the life of the blessed. That is why we are always standing before the command of life to give thanks in all things. That's why we remember the saying to always rejoice. ... ♬