How Soon People Forget God’s Grace - Exodus 1-4

Exodus 1:8-10 (ESV)

Pharaoh Oppresses Israel

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”

How could the new Pharaoh not know Joseph?  He must have at least known about Joseph. Or, better, how easy is it for the world to forget the memories of believers who impacted their lives.  This is a truth that is really practical in our day.   People of the world soon forget the impact that Christianity had on the forming of this nation.  Today Christins are looked upon as the problem, not the solution to social needs.   After Joesph died the memories of his wisdom and strategy to save the nation of Egypt died when the famine ended.  Notice what the Pharaoh in Joesph’s day said about him:

Genesis 41:37-40 (ESV)

This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

Now, a generation later, Joesph is unknown and the nation of Israel is a cause of the Egyptian’s problems in life, not the solution.  Such is the attitude of the world.  God, of course, is using this enmity in the new Pharaoh’s heart to create the exodus of Israel from Egypt.   God is stirring this ruler up against His people in order to deliver them by His great strength from this ruler.  This is not unlike the end times.  The nations will begin to rage against the Church of Christ and the governing authority will begin to reject truth and persecute the Church more and more.   That will result in Christ’s return and the nations and rulers of this world to be conquered.   Just as Moses was the sent savior to Israel, so Jesus would be and will be the savior of the Church.   Moses himself will later write to tell the nation of Israel about the future Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth:

Deuteronomy 18:18-19 (ESV)

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

The nations will not remember what God does for them through His people.  But God will continue to remind them.   And God will continue to deliver His people from the wrath of the world.