So, why send Israel into Egypt where they were going to be put into slavery?
Genesis 15:16; God promised that there would be four generations until they returned to Canaan because the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full. Who are the Amorites?
A quick word search in a concordance reveals that they were among the race of giants that inhabited the land of Canaan. They were demonic idol worshippers, mountain dwellers, large as cedar trees; allied with Og King of Bashan whose bed was 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide;
They were in fact the very people from among whom Abram and Sarai dwelt and from whom the land was taken. Ezek 16:3
What’s more we see that God waited until they were at the height of their power before the Israelites invaded the land. Why bring up all of this detail? Because we need to be reminded of how powerful an alliance with God truly is. Israel was tasked to destroy those ‘greater and mightier’. (Deut 7:1)
God’s purpose in bringing Israel to Egypt: Remembering God’s purpose in redemption helps us to endure the difficulties of life.
It is better to judge circumstances in the presence of God
Rather than judging God in the presence of circumstances.
C.H. Mackintosh.
Incubation, preservation, emancipation in Christ
How many left Egypt?
Graphic of God’s original intent. The office of theocratic administrator is God’s plan for governing His creation. The nation of Israel is God’s plan for restoring the kingdom, where one man, the promised seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent and rule the world from the land where He has chosen to place His name.
As we get older, we lose the confidence of youth. We become more dependent on others and this creates a place of fear in our lives. Knowing that we are allied with the mighty God who has promised to restore the world back to what He created at the beginning can help us to overcome fear and grow us into a more confident faith like Joshua and Caleb. Like young David facing Goliath, the church can confront the giants who oppose God in the name of the Lord and see them defeated.
Israel’s experience in Egypt was God’s means of incubation of a nation isolated from the evils of Canaan and focused on the promise of redemption. Very much like the church is designed to do.
The Mosaic covenant was God’s alliance with man whereby the office of theocratic administrator could begin to be at least partially restored so that God’s glory could dwell with His people.
Exodus 19:5-6; a kingdom of priests; This is the first time that the word kingdom is used to describe God’s dealings with His own people. Up until now they were a distinct people held together by the Abrahamic covenant, sequestered in Goshen and marked by the sign of circumcision. The sign that they were intended to be a distinct race whose promised seed would be holy and not be a product of the flesh.
(The ‘y’ chromosome marks masculinity. Since inheritance comes through the firstborn male, Christ’s masculinity is not from Joseph but from His heavenly Father and marks Him as the heir of all things)
Now that Israel’s incubation period in Egypt is complete, they were given a designation as a kingdom of priests. They are worshippers of the one true God in opposition to the pagan nations that they were about to displace.
List of Theocratic Administrators;Israel enjoyed the presence of the Shekinah glory for 800 years
In Ezekiel we read of how the Shekinah glory of God reluctantly left the temple. That glory did not return until Christ Himself entered the temple Mark 11:11,15. When the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom at the death of the Lord, it revealed the absence of the glory.
Romans 5:13-14; Death reigned from Adam until Moses, a dark period marking a time when the office of TA was not present on the earth. So what is meant by the phrase: “they did not sin after the likeness of the offense of Adam”? Those that sinned between Adam and Moses did not know the presence of God’s glory in their midst.
Conditional Covenant; God would be with them as long as they kept the provisions of the covenant.
Prov 3:5,6; an example of a conditional covenant. I have to do A,B,C for God to do D
Exodus 19:5-6; If, then wording
The Abrahamic Covenant is called a Royal Grant. It is a trust where nothing is required except to be the recipient named. Suzerain-Vassal treaty of the ancient near east. A well known treaty structure of that time. If you obey the terms of the covenant text, then the suzerain promises to protect the vassal. If the vassal fails, he will be cursed. (Feudal system) Deuteronomy sets forth the provisions of a SV treaty with Israel. Ten Commandments with 615 laws that expand and explain the commandments. Six parts to the treaty
The last section are the blessings and curses. Deut. 28 and Lev 26 Israel’s history in advance. 14 verses for blessings, 54 verses of curses.
Deuteronomy 28:49-50;
Ownership vs Possession (enjoyment). e.g. An inheritance is placed in a trust. The trust allows you to possess a property but not enjoy it. You own the trust that owns the inheritance but you cannot enjoy it until certain conditions are met. The Mosaic covenant specifies the conditions through which the trust of the Abrahamic Covenant may be enjoyed.
Hosea 4:1-2 is the declaration of a covenant lawsuit against the nation of Israel. The prophets were sent to declare Israel’s violation with the warning that they will be invaded and dispersed if they do not comply.
Ezek 43:9; If, on the other hand, you comply you will be blessed with the presence of the Lord in their midst. Once they comply, they will not only be the owner but also the possessor. The Kingdom is not cancelled but postponed.
What is the difference between the Mosaic covenant and the land or Palestinian covenant? (When your neighbor asks you this the next time that you see him/her outside)
The Mosaic covenant points to Christ: His death and resurrection fulfills the covenant and purchases their right to occupy the full land promise. They must first confess with their mouth that Jesus is Messiah and that God has raised Him from the dead (Rom 10:9).
Deut. 17:15 One of the conditions of this treaty is that they have to accept the King of God’s choosing.
John 5:45-47 shows how Israel failed to recognize Messiah, the King when He came to them.
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