Exodus 1:7-14
OVERCOMING THE STRANGE PULL OF EGYPT
Intro: One of the most important sciences of study when it comes to the
Bible is the field of study known as "hermeneutics". The word refers to "the
science of biblical interpretation". Within hermeneutics, there are many
principles that can be applied to a text to determine the proper meaning.
One of those principles is the "principle of first mention". This principle
states that how a subject is used when it is first mentioned in the Bible
determines its usage throughout the Bible.
In our text, one of the subjects mentioned in the land of Egypt. If we
apply the principle of first mention to the land of Egypt, we have to go back
to Gen. 12:10-20. In those verses, Abraham walks out to the will of God to
go to Egypt and experiences some very negative consequences as a result.
Therefore, the first time Egypt is mentioned in the Bible, it is mentioned
within a negative context. This sets the tone for how Egypt is to be viewed
throughout the Bible.
In fact, the land of Egypt is a type of the world. This is true because it
holds the people of God in bondage, it leads to death and it is ruled over by
an evil tyrant. With this in mind, it is fascinating to see the strange pull
Egypt had over the lives of the saints of the Bible. For instance, Abraham
went down to Egypt during a time of famine, Gen. 12:10-20. His grandson
Jacob did the very same thing, Gen. 42:1-3. When Hagar wanted a bride
for Ishmael, she took him a bride from Egypt, Gen. 21:21. And, even after
they had been delivered from terrible bondage in that land, the children of
Israel longed to return to Egypt.
Before we look down at such people as Abraham and Jacob, maybe we
should admit to the fact that we too experience a strange pull from our
Egypt, the world. In truth, many of the Lord's people spend a significant
amount of their lives either looking back to Egypt, or actually living there full
time. Tonight, I want to use the experiences of Israel with Egypt and talk to
you for a while about Overcoming The Strange Pull Of Egypt. You and
I do not have to live defeated, cold, carnal spiritual lives. We can, by the
grace of God, walk in victory and power. The thoughts I want to share with
you this evening will tell us how this is possible.
I. WE SEE ISRAEL DOMINATED BY EGYPT
A. The Pain Of Their Domination - Ex. 1:10-22; Ex. 11:1-14 - As the
Bible relates, the pain and suffering endured by the Israelites was
almost unimaginable. Of course, this pictures vividly the bondage
endured by those who are captives of this world system, Eph. 2:1-3.
Being out of the will of God should never be viewed as a pleasure
trip. It is a time of severe bondage, darkness and enslavement.
B. The Progression Of Their Domination - Ex. 5:5-19 - After time, the
bondage felt by Israel grew worse instead of better. This is always
the way with those trapped in the world. Their attractions grow
stronger over time. Their addictions grow stronger over time. They
find themselves more deeply rooted in the world than ever. (Note:
This is why it is harder for older folks to make a commitment to the
Lord Jesus Christ. Time and sin sears the conscience and hardens
the heart!)
(Note: Does this remind you of where you were before Jesus found
you and saved your soul? It should, because He delivered us from
the most terrible bondage imaginable, the bondage of sin! We
should praise the Lord for the day He set us free from the bondage
of sin!)
C. The Product Of Their Domination - Ex. 2:1-10 - In the midst of the
slavery, a redeemer was born in their midst. They took little notice
of him at the time, but one day, he would rise up to deliver them from
their bondage. (Note: It was into this sin cursed world of darkness
that God sent His darling Son to be born, to live and to die for
humanity. Few recognized or received Him when He made His
appearance, John 1:11, but what He accomplished while He was
here broke the shackles of sin for everyone who will trust Him by
faith, Luke 4:18.)
II. WE SEE ISRAEL DELIVERED FROM EGYPT
A. They Were Delivered By The Plan Of God - Ex. 3-4 - God's plan
to deliver Israel was older that Moses. In fact, a few of the details of
that plan had been leaked to Abraham hundreds of years earlier, Gen. 15:13-14. In the council halls of Heaven, God had determined
how and when He would deliver Israel. When Moses came along,
God put His plan into action. It was a plan the demanded faith and
obedience, but it was a plan that was destined to work. (Note: The
plan of salvation that delivered you and me from the bondage of sin
was not thought up as an after thought when Jesus died on the
cross. It was not a plan B. Since before the foundation of the world,
there has been but one plan to save the lost sinners of the world. It
was a plan conceived in Heaven, Rev. 13:8. Details of this plan
were leaked here and there over time, but it was finally and fully
completed on a hill called Calvary when Jesus Christ gave His life
and shed His blood to redeem lost sinners. It is a plan that demands
faith and obedience, Eph. 2:8-9, Acts 16:31; and it is a plan that will
work for all who receive it as their own.)
B. They Were Delivered By The Power Of God - Ex. 5-13 - Ill. The
Context. God unleashed His wrath against Egypt and delivered His
people in a tremendous display of power. He redeemed them by the
exercise of His great ability. (Note: Salvation does not come about
by human reasoning, human goodness, or human deeds. Salvation
is solely the work of Almighty God. He formulated the plan. He
supplied the blood. He calls the sinner. He saves the sinner. He
keeps the sinner. He does it all without our aid or intervention!)
C. They Were Delivered In The Praises Of God - Ex. 14:8 - Ill.
Context. These people left Egypt behind praising the Lord that they
had been delivered. They were redeemed and they were excited.
(Note: Remember what it was like when it first dawned on you that
you were saved? Remember the excitement and praise the filled
your heart for the Lord? Remember how you longed for His house,
His Word, His singing and His worship? Can you remember what it
felt like to be redeemed? Does it still feel as real tonight?)
III. WE SEE ISRAEL DESIRING EGYPT
(Ill. Even though they had experienced such a great deliverance from
their bondage in Egypt, the people of Israel continued to experience a
strange pull back to that land of slavery, bondage and death. I see the
same thin in our lives as believers. Even though we have been set free,
there is still a continuous pull back to the world and its attractions.
Notice a few areas where this was true for Israel and where it is also
true for us.)
A. They Desired The Safety Of Egypt - Ex. 14:10-11 - Ill. The
Context. In Egypt, they were slaves, but if they did their jobs, they
were safe and they knew what to expect. Pharaoh may have been
their enemy, but at least he wasn't trying to kill them! Now, he is in
hot pursuit of Israel and he intends to put them to death! (Note: It
is a shock to a new believer when the first spiritual battle takes
place. Satan, the old master, does everything in his power to defeat
those who are committed to serving Jesus, the new Master.
Sometimes, these spiritual battles and the battles with the lusts and
desires of the flesh overwhelm the believer and he or she desires to
return to Egypt.)
B. They Desired The Supplies Of Egypt - Ex. 16:2-3; Ex. 17:3; Num.
20:4 - Ill. The Context. In Egypt, the Israelites could depend on
having plenty of food and water at their disposal. When they left to
follow God, they were required to live their lives by faith. Trusting
Him to give them what they needed moment by moment. (Note:
The world's way to get ahead is to lie, steal and cheat your way to
what you want and need. God's way is to wait on Him to give you
what He wants you to have, Matt. 6:33. This does not appeal to
many of His saints. Israel's problems were impatience and
ingratitude! They wanted to return to Egypt, where at least they
could count on their meals. Many of God's children also succumb
to the pull of the world when they feel unable to trust the Lord by
faith for all their needs. But, you can trust Him, Psa. 37:25; Phil.
4:19.)
C. They Desired The Spirits Of Egypt - Ex. 32:1-8 - Ill. Context. The
people of Israel tried to make them some new gods to worship.
Their new gods were merely the gods of Egypt. They desired the
things they worshiped when they were slaves. (Note: The same
thing can happen to the redeemed people of God. When we look
back at the things which occupied our minds in the world, we can
begin to desire those things again. Maybe we worshiped money,
power, sex, attention, possessions, etc. The gods of the world can
be a strong rope to pull us back into the world's grip.)
D. They Desired The Stability Of Egypt - Num. 21:4-5 - Ill. The
Context. The Israelites complained about the "way". They thought
it was too tough and too difficult. They longed for the life they lived
in Egypt, where each day was as predictable as the day before had
been. It may have been a life of drudgery and slavery, but at least
they knew what to expect when the sun came up. (Note: The life of
faith is different! The redeemed of the Lord never know where the
path of life will lead them. Some days, He leads us through the
green pastures and beside the still waters of His blessings. Other
days He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. But,
always He leads us! That is important! That is what makes the way
bearable. When we lose sight of the Shepherd, we will grow weary
of the way and long for the predictability of the world and its way of
life. That is why we must ever look at the face of the Shepherd as
we journey, Heb. 12:2.)
E. They Despised Their Savior From Egypt - Deut. 1:27 - These
carnal people even had the audacity to speak out against the God
Who had delivered them from bondage! They falsely accused Him
of hating them when, in fact, everything He did was for their benefit!
(Note: You may think that you would never say anything like that,
but we say it without opening our mouths. When we refuse to
worship the Lord as He has commanded, then we are despising
Him. When we neglect Him and His house, we are guilty of
despising the Lord. When we live carnally and worldly, we are
openly despising the Lord Who redeemed us from sin and saying,
"I would rather have the world that the Father!" It is a tragedy
when the people of God live as though they hate the One Who
bought them from bondage!)
IV. WE SEE ISRAEL DYING TO EGYPT
(Ill. It is possible to die to the influence of the world in our lives. This can
happen in one of two ways. Both of those ways are portrayed for us by
Israel.)
A. The Majority Died In A Polluted Land - Num. 14:3; 22-45 - Ill. The
Context. Because they refused to walk in the plan of God and they
decided that their way was better than His, He allowed them to
wander in the wilderness until they had all died! For 40 years they
wandered in the wilderness, longing for the pleasures of Egypt.
Perhaps they had forgotten that they were slaves in Egypt. Perhaps
they had forgotten the sting of the taskmaster's whip upon their
backs. Perhaps they had forgotten the mindless toil that produced
nothing for them but more bondage, more labor and in the end
death. What they looked back on with such lust was not what really
existed! But, because Egypt was so deeply rooted in their hearts,
they were prevented from entering the promised land of victory.
They died with Egypt in their hearts, and it was only at their deaths
that they truly died to Egypt. (Note: Many people in the Lord's family
are in the same sad shape today. They are so enamored with the
world and with what they long for there, that they are never able to
overcome the pull of the world and die in defeat, never having
walked in the victory of the Spirit. The only time they truly die to the
world is when they lay down this flesh. That is a sad way to live, and
it is not what Jesus saved us for!)
B. The Minority Died In The Promised Land - Num. 14:30 - Ill. The
Context. Only two men who had left Egypt as adults were permitted
to enter the promised land of victory. They were allowed to do so
because they looked forward instead of looking backward. They
wanted what God had for them out there instead of what they had
left behind back there. They saw Egypt for what it was and wanted
nothing more to do with that land. They wanted the best God had
for them and they received it from the hand of the Lord. By the way,
it is interesting to note that after Israel crossed Jordan and entered
the promised land, there is no mentioned on anyone longing to go
back to Egypt. (Ill. Jordan is often pictured as death and the
promised land as Heaven. This is just not good theology! The
promised land is the life of victory as a believer and the Jordan
represents that barrier of separation between the old life and the
new life of victory in Jesus Christ.) (Note: Just like Caleb and
Joshua, victory over the pull of Egypt is possible for you and me
today! The way to achieve this is laid out for us by the Apostle Paul
in Phil. 3:13-15. The secret to overcoming the past lies in reaching
forth for the things God has for you out there in the future. You can
leave Egypt behind forever, but it will never happen until you want it
to! Egypt will always be a problem in your life until you admit it is a
problem, 1 John 1:9, and you take some concrete steps to but a
Jordan between you and it. How do you do that? By putting some
distance between you and your Egypt! You have got to let go of that
land and all that is holds for you and promises to you, 2 Cor. 6:17.)
Conc: If we were honest today, many of us would have to admit that we
have a lot of Lot's wife in us. She was a woman that was so full of her
Egypt, Sodom, that she died with it buried deep in her heart, Gen. 19:26.
Someone said that she "ran in a rut, lived in a strain and died in a twist."
Why did she end up this way? Because she was looking back to her Egypt.
It killed her and it will do the same to you! Maybe that's why Jesus
counseled us to "Remember Lot's wife", Luke 17:32. On the other hand,
Lot never looked back and he was delivered. Which of the two best
describes you today?
Overcoming the strange pull of Egypt in your life will never be easy. But,
it can be accomplished by faith the Lord and by putting some distance
between you and those things that draw you back. If you are battling the
pull of Egypt in your life, why don't you come before the Lord today and find
the help you need in getting a Jordan of separation between you and it?
