"Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came into power in Egypt."

Exodus 1:8, NIV 

 

After reading the book of Genesis, you know that Joseph was one of the greatest friends that the nation of Egypt ever had. The reason for this was simple: He delivered a message from God that had the power to save. Pharaoh recognized this and placed Joseph as second in command in Egypt. But, time went on, both men died, and a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph or God came into power.

 

That's where the trouble started. 

 

And he placed the entire nation of Israel into slavery.

 

Many years later, Moses came along with a saving message from God to the people of Egypt, but they were not as inclined to listen as had been their ancestors. Two verses pretty well sum up the entire situation. The first was God speaking to Moses; the second was Moses bringing God's message to Pharaoh. Here are the verses:

 

"So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you."

Exodus 3:10-12, NIV

 

"Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: 'Let my people go so that they may hold a festival to Me in the desert.'" Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."

Exodus 5:1-2, NIV 

 

Did you catch the contrast of Moses' and Pharaoh's attitudes? Moses said, "Who am I", but Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD?"

 

I think that this contrast pretty well sums up the difference between a life that is pleasing to God, and one that is displeasing. The servant of God will show humility - "Who am I", while the one opposed to God will show arrogance - "who is the LORD?" If you were to think about the recent decisions by our politicians and judges to accept that which God says is perverse on one hand, and then to permit and facilitate the killing of the unborn on the other, you will see a group of arrogant people with the same attitude of Pharaoh: "I do not know the LORD" and, therefore, I will not do as He commands.

 

If you have been as disappointed in the Godless attitude that so many of our leaders have displayed recently, then perhaps this will give you a bit of encouragement: In the Exodus account, those who regarded God's will over their own were delivered from harm. Those who ignored God were humbled, impoverished, and destroyed.

 

Which attitude... do you have?

 

"I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless." Isaiah 13:11, NIV 

 

Today is day 8 of the 30 day challenge to read through the books of Moses, with the reading consisting of the first seven chapters of Exodus. May God richly bless your efforts as you humbly seek His will!