Focus

So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. [Exodus 1.11]

Sometimes, we would do well to consider Israel's history asking ourselves why things transpired as they did. Israel's bondage to Egypt is one of those things.

Here is a thought I had... It had become obvious with Jacob's sons that they were struggling to 'keep it together' family-wise in their treatment of Joseph. However, it was through Joseph that the family, as a whole, eventually moved to Egypt. In short fact, all of Jacob's descendants (Israel) became slaves in Egypt because of his son's treatment of their brother Joseph. 

The Egyptians grew to despise the Israelites, inadvertently creating solidarity among Israel as a people. Did this 'unification' of Israel serve to preserve their national identity? What does it matter? It matters because Jesus would be identified as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Israel serves history to focus on the Messiah.

It is very easy to get lost in the history of Israel without considering Jesus. We will do well however to keep Jesus' words in mind all the way through the Old Testament writings:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

To search the Scriptures for anything other than Jesus, is a gross misuse of God's Word and proves we have missed the point altogether.

Father, help me to stay focused on Jesus this year as I read the Bible!