Verse of the day: Exodus
1:7 But the children of Israel
were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty;
and the land was filled with them.
Israel,
Joseph, and all his brothers are dead. What began with seventy people (Joseph
already being in Egypt), God has now grown in abundance. God brought Joseph,
Israel, and the rest of the family into Egypt at a time of great famine; yet,
He provided in abundance for them. Now He has multiplied them, and they are
becoming mighty in number. The land is filled with them. What was the result of
God’s blessing in multiplying them? A new king was ruling who did not know
Joseph, and therefore what resulted was envy, suspicion, and persecution by the
Egyptians. We now begin to see man’s quest to overthrow God’s blessings. The
Israelites now begin their many years of enslavement, as foretold to Abraham by
God (Genesis 15:13). However, note that the more the Egyptians afflicted God’s
people, the more God multiplied them. As a matter of fact, they multiplied in
such great numbers that the Egyptians’ hatred for them grew more and more (v.
12). As their hatred grew, so did their efforts to make them suffer with more
rigorous service in their enslavement (v. 13). The world has not changed much
since that time. When God chooses to bless His people in certain ways,
persecution will always come. Sadly, sometimes that persecution comes even from
other brothers and sisters in Christ. Nonetheless, when persecution comes as a
result of envy, jealousy, false accusation, suspicion, or simply because we
have a different world view, this should not be a surprise to us. 1 Peter 4:12-14
remind us, “Beloved, do
not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that
you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may
also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name
of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. Even
Jesus told us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to
you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Joseph was hated and
persecuted by his brothers because of envy. The Israelites were persecuted by
the Egyptians because of envy and suspicion. David, before taking the throne,
was persecuted because of King Saul’s jealousy (1 Samuel 18). In Acts 13:45,
and 17:5, we are told that the Apostle Paul was persecuted because of jealousy.
Sadly, even in ministry, when some see how God is blessing, in the way He
chooses to use others, jealousy rears its ugly head, and we see rebellion
within the church which usually ends in church splits and put a great blemish
on our testimony as children of God who are supposed to be known as followers
of Christ because of our love for one another (Philippians 1:15; John 13:35). The
bottom line is that when God blesses us, whether monetarily, materially, with a
wonderful marital relationship, status in society, or uses us greatly within
the body of Christ, we must always be ready to deal with those who will rise up
to persecute us, and try to turn our blessing(s) into a curse. With that said,
please do not mistake what I am saying by interpreting it as if I have said
that God always blesses His people with money and material things. God does
choose to bless whomever He chooses to bless. However, our everyday blessings come
in different forms and ways. If we do not see them, it is because we are
expecting them in a way that God has not chosen for us, and we have become
blind to God’s blessing because of our own selfish desires. Nonetheless, when
God blesses in a way that is visible and obvious to others, some may try to
oppress us, and persecute us. They will speak lies, make accusations, and even
try to use our past sinful choices to make us feel unworthy and cause others to
come against us. Remember that regardless of what the world throws our way, if
we have God on our side, no matter how intense the persecution, God will
eventually bring us through, as He did with the Israelites, after allowing many
years of suffering. If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?
Rather than shrink away from the persecution, let us allow God to use it to
show the world how we stand in persecution, and just like God multiplied the
Israelites in Egypt, in the midst of being afflicted, let us allow God to use our
times of affliction to spread the Gospel message to those who see us endure. It
is during times of persecution that we have some of the greatest opportunities
to lead others to the Lord.
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