Bibledoorajar: Looking Up

    The Pharoah who had the audacity to say "I know not the Lord" is the epitome of  human desire to be independent from God and forgetting that we exist at His pleasure. This particular Pharoah was referenced as an Assyrian by Stephen in his sermon recorded in Acts. Some scholars state that he was executing a police state in Egypt.  But, be that as it may, Stephen said "it was he who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive." Thus we have two comparative statements about this evil act in the Bible ( Exodus and Acts)  witnessing the reality of evil opposition to God's people and our need to confront it (out of the mouth of two or three witnesses...2 Cor. 13:1).

Yesterday, I was surprised when the Bible class lesson learning goal was: "We are doing this training to equip ourselves with motivation to accomplish and overcome OPPOSITIONAL difficulties so we can fully serve God." The learning objectives were that at the end of the session participants would possess skills to PURGE harmful and OPPRESSIVE difficulties and would once again be eager in their service to God and the church. We were to see ourselves as part of history still fighting opposition!

God  had allowed the children of Jacob to grow exponentially and the Pharaoh began to give reasons why they should be dealt a harsher life. He claimed they were getting too mighty--a formidable body who needed to be kept under control or they would become dangerous to the government. Thus began a long history of leaders coming up with some pretense as to why the Jews were not fit to be trusted or to fit in with current thought.

It is a story for all Christians to note being that it is a great description of how the bondage of sin can entangle us accusing us of "just not fitting in". The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

" Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles."  Heb. 12:1

Like Israel, we are to look to the "clouds" being dependent on the Strength thereof and to resist being as Egypt who looked at their "world" for strength and independence from the true Source of strength.. The "clouds" are full of mercy and help. Why not take a closer look this week as to how the joy of the Lord can be your strength? There He is--right by the Father. See Him?