RETURNING to ‘EGYPT’ is NOT an ‘OPTION’ for God’s PEOPLE!
August 21 Bible Reading: Jeremiah Chapters 43-45
RETURNING to ‘EGYPT’ is NOT an ‘OPTION’ for God’s PEOPLE!
"So
Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces, and all the people
would not obey the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah. But
Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the
remnant of Judah who had returned to dwell in the land of Judah, from all
nations where they had been driven--so they went to the land of Egypt, for they
did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they went as far as Tahpanhes."
(Jer. 43:4-5, 7)
When we
study the history of the people of Israel, the first time Egypt was introduced
in the scriptures was when Joseph was sold by his own brothers to Ishmaelite
traders, who took him down to Egypt along with their merchandise
for sale (Gen. 37:26-28; 39:1). Even
though Joseph started well in Potiphar’s home as an overseer, he was soon
accused falsely by Potiphar’s wife of improper conduct (Gen. 39:11-18) and soon
landed in prison (v. 20). But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy (v.
21), and by divine intervention he was elevated to be the overseer of Egypt
(Gen. 41:39-41). He brought down his father, his siblings and their families to
live with him in Egypt.
However, it
was not God’s plan for His own people to continue living in Egypt. So, God made
life intolerable for His people by hardening the heart of Pharaoh against them.
At the same time, God chose Moses, who was trained in all the wisdom of the
Egyptians (see Acts 7:22), to deliver His people out of Egypt with the
objective that they would never return
back to Egypt under any circumstances!
During the
wilderness journey, some Israelites attempted to return back to Egypt (see Num.
14:1-4), but God prevented them as it was
not His plan. After the Israelites lived in Canaan for many years, King Solomon
made a treaty with the Egyptian Pharaoh, married his daughter and brought her
to the City of David (1 Kings 3:1), and even had horses imported from Egypt (1
Kings 10:28). This was the beginning of King Solomon’s downfall. Returning to Egypt has never been an option
for God’s people!
With
relation to the above passage above, God specifically instructed to the remnant
of Judah not to go back to Egypt. "The
Lord has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go to Egypt!' Know certainly that I have admonished you
this day." (Jer. 42:19) In fact, God pronounced death sentence through prophet Jeremiah to the people returning to
Egypt: "Thus says the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of
Babylon, My servant…when he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt and
deliver to death those appointed for death, and to captivity those appointed
for captivity, and to the sword those appointed for the sword.'" (Jer.
43:10-11)
In the
spiritual context, Egypt can be equated to the world around us and all the attraction that is enticing us all the
time. This is what God’s Word speaks
to us about our connection to the world: "Do
not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is
of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who
does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
