“Soon I will die,” Joseph told his brothers, “but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” [Genesis 50.24]
Why do you suppose Joseph said this? Think about it... the famine that brought Israel to Egypt was over but Israel remained in Egypt.
Remember that Joseph was second in command of all Egypt. He was indeed a powerful individual and one not to be trifled with. However, he was still, only second in command.
We will read shortly that Israel was forced into slave labor after the death of Joseph. My question is this: Why didn't they just leave when Joseph died? And, why did Joseph speak of "God helping them out of Egypt..." as he did?
The truth is, Israel became slaves of Pharaoh as soon as they moved to Egypt in the first place. Joseph was indeed the most elevated man in Egypt besides Pharaoh, but he still remained under the authority and rule of Pharaoh. Granted, the original Pharaoh permitted great liberty to Israel - but again, it was his liberty to grant! We will see that subsequent rulers did not share the original Pharaoh's embrace of Israel.
While I will not attempt to argue with prophecy regarding Israel's fate, I will however make a point as an object lesson for us. Just because something does not look or feel like bondage at first, does not mean it is not bondage!
Father, help us to have eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts to understand our present circumstances. May we not allow the "grumblings of our stomach" blind us to situations that will enslave us.
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