CAPTIVES IN EGYPT
By Patricia Jackson
McDowell County
In Genesis 15:13, God tells Abram, “Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years.” In Genesis 22, God saw Abram was willing to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. So God promised Abraham that his seed would “multiply as the stars of the heaven and the sand which is upon the seashore and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.”
In Genesis 46:1-4, God tells Jacob to “fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation, and will surely bring thee up again.” In Exodus Ch. 1, we learn of Israel’s bondage and growth in Egypt. The new King of Egypt did not know Joseph and became concerned the children of Israel are more and mightier than them. He set taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens, building cities. The more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew. God heard the groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and had respect unto them. God sent Moses several times to Pharoah to let his people go, but Pharoah refused.
Ten plagues came upon Egypt, all devastating to the Egyptians. Each of the ten plagues was a judgment against the false Egyptian gods. Their gods were powerless to duplicate the plagues or stop them. Exodus 9:14” For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.”
The plagues were ten disasters sent by God upon Egypt to convince Pharoah to free the Israelite slaves from the four-hundred-year bondage and oppression they had endured. It was also a clear picture of God’s power, God’s protection, and God’s plan for his chosen people. Thus, the Egyptians and other ancient people of the region knew of the powerful God of the children of Israel. We still serve that same powerful God today!
Patricia Jackson is the Assistant Teacher for the Ladies Class at Redeemed Free Will Baptist Church, Glenwood, NC. She is a grant writer for non-profits, a published author and retired Nursing Home Administrator. She lives in Rutherford County with her husband. Contact information: email address: wyo2go@bellsouth.net.
You can read more good Christian news from Patricia HERE.
