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Israel the New Generation

Setting The Stage For A Divine Showdown

Through one's natural perception, the Israelites may have seemed to be broken, and weak. But in actuality (thanks to the God of their forefathers) growing stronger as a nation. For you see, God was setting the stage so to speak. For it would be on this particular stage, God would pit the Israelites against all they ever known.

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Exodus 1:12-14

In the last Bible study article, we'd took a look at the possible unforeseen dangers, that Israel would have had faced, if they had been allowed to return to the land of Canaan, without having to endure a very long season of captivity, from within the Egyptian kingdom. For I'd pointed out, that at this point from within Israel's history, they didn't have near the numbers that they had as a nation (nor the faith in the God of their forefathers), when the Almighty had finally used Moses, to deliver them from their captivity.

Now this is very important to note. For it's these types of details and perspectives, that helps to give us some deeper insight, when it came to why the Israelites, had to endure a very long season of captivity, from within the Egyptian kingdom to begin with. And this is also why, I'd used the previous article, to mention some of the very powerful civilizations, that were existing during this time, from within the land of Canaan.

For I hold true to the notion, that with Israel's lack of numbers as a nation, and their tremendous lack of faith, when it came to the God of their forefathers, it would have been near impossible, for the Israelites to defeat these very powerful civilizations on their own. And honestly, the absence of faith alone (in regard to the God that they were serving) would have kept them from having the courage, and the obedience, when it came to following the specific instructions (for these instructions were crucial, when it came to them defeating their enemies) that had came from that very same God. 

Now we could assume, that God would have stepped in to help them, and that God would not have allowed them to perish. I mean after all, He had a covenant, He was beholden to, when it came to them. But since they didn't personally know the Lord at this moment in time, and with there probably being a good chance, there weren't any true spiritual leaders at this time, that the Lord could have used (being that they all had passed around the time that Joseph did) God would not have risked stepping in, only to see His credit of giving them victory, be given to themselves, or even worse, to be given to some false deity.

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Israel Was Being Blessed 

Not Cursed

With all of this going on, this is why I believe, God allowed them to go into a season of captivity. And even though the Israelites for the time being, had lost their freedom, and had now found themselves dealing with an unfortunate season of captivity; I want you to know, the God of their forefathers, was still with them: "But the more the Egyptians afflicted them, the more the Israelites multiplied and grew. And the Egyptians were in dread of the children of Israel." -- Exodus 1:12

For the Scripture basically points out, is that even though, through one's natural perception, the Israelites may have seemed to be broken, and weak. But they were in actuality (thanks to the God of their forefathers) growing stronger as a nation. Know that God was setting the stage so to speak. For it would be on this particular stage, God would pit the Israelites, against all they ever known.

For we must not forget, the Israelites at this point from within their history, would be seen as a new, very young civilization, that did not know the God of their forefathers personally, like their forefathers had done before them. And in reality, if one were to be honest, all they knew at this time, were the false gods that the Egyptians were serving.

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Can We Really Blame Them?

Now don't get me wrong, the Israelites didn't make the fatal mistake of falling into the Egyptians false idolatrous practices, when it came to their false gods. For what it's worth, they did hold strong to their traditions, which included them staying as faithful as they possibly good, when it came to the God of their forefathers. Even though, they didn't really know Him personally.

But if we were to think about their situation for a moment, one can't help but see, how the Israelites were able to see daily, and naturally, just how great the Egyptian kingdom was becoming, in spite of their false idolatry. For they were able to see, how the Egyptians were steadily growing as a nation, and how they were constantly becoming more powerful, as they constantly gave the credit to their false gods.

Now keep in mind, this is what one would try to call "having physical evidence" and it's this type of so-called evidence, that could have easily led one to question, if these deities that the Egyptians were serving, were truly for real: "Oh my, look at how the Egyptian gods are blessing their people" Now if we were to be honest with ourselves, could we truly blame a person (or a group of people) for thinking a thought such as this, based upon what they thought they were seeing daily?

Now I know that there are some Christians, who hate this type of rhetoric, but in reality, it's a fact, we are more confident, in believing in the things that we can naturally see and touch. Perhaps this is why the majority of us, always fall for one's outside public image, instead of taking the time, to see the "inner contents" (or one's true character) that's taking place from within the person, that's projecting that very same public image. But I digress...

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Israel Didn't Really Know Their God At This Point

Now I want you to remember that at this point, from within Israel's history they didn't have a Sacred Record that they could fall back on, like we have today with the Bible. Understand that Moses (the author of the Pentateuch, which is the first five books of the Bible) wasn't even born at this point. Now they did have the repeated story telling, and the reassurances of the covenant, that God had made with their forefathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Which was a promise by God, that was initially given to Abraham, which basically dealt with the future of Israel.

And I guess we can also throw in the repeated story telling, that dealt with the life of Joseph (and his personal relationship with God) being that he was the very person, God had used, to bring them down to Egypt to begin with.

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Setting the Stage

Nonetheless, I'd like to think, this was in no doubt, a challenge for the Israelites. Being that they didn't have the knowledge, or the understanding, to be able to recognize the tremendous amount of true physical evidence, that the God of their forefathers, had constantly surrounded them with. But in spite of all this, know that all is well, for I hold true to the notion, God was setting the stage for a divine showdown. For this will be a showdown, that will take place against the very gods, that the Egyptians took pride in, and gave all the credit, when it came to serving them.

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The 400 Year Prophecy?

Now for starters, keep in mind, that even though this 400 year season was considered harsh for the Israelites; if everything would have stayed well, and peaceful, from within the land of Egypt, the Israelites would not have wanted to leave the Egyptian Empire, when it was time for them to leave. Remember that God had already foretold to Abraham, that Israel was going to be afflicted, enslaved and strangers in a land for 400 years: 

"Then He said to Abram: 'Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved, and afflicted for four hundred years. But also know, that the nation whom they serve, I will judge -- and afterward, they shall come out with great possessions.'" -- Genesis 15:13,14

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So Why 430 Years? 

So why does the Bible mention a 430 year period, after God had told Abraham that it would be a 400 year period, in which Israel would be suffering? : "Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was 430 years." -- Exodus 12:40

And not only that, but this particular Scripture is also backed, and confirmed by the apostle Paul:

"Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say: 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one: 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was 430 years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect." -- Galatians 3:16,17

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Timelines Matter 

Now when it comes to the "430 years" reference that's mentioned, know that this is basically dealing with the first promise that God had given to Abraham, when he'd first entered into Canaan:

"Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said; 'To your descendants I will give this land.' And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him." -- Genesis 12:7

And if you were to count from this time, to when Israel had finally left Egypt, it would be 430 years. Also keep in mind, Abraham's descendants hadn't came into play yet. But later on, we find that God would renew, or confirm this promise with Abraham again, almost thirty years later. And this is where you will now get the 400 year reference:

"Then He said to Abram: 'Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved, and afflicted for four hundred years. But also know, that the nation whom they serve, I will judge -- and afterward, they shall come out with great possessions.'" -- Genesis 15:13,14

And it would be at this time, we find that God would mention the remaining time, that would be left for Israel, when it came to being strangers in a foreign land, from that point forward. It would also be around this time, Abraham's descendants would begin to come into play, for we find that Abraham's second son Isaac, would soon be born.

Understand that when the Scriptures talk about Abraham descendants being strangers in a foreign land, this doesn't deal with Egypt only, for this also includes Canaan. And although Canaan was eventually promised to them; during this point in history, when this promised was made, the land was not officially theirs. So therefore, they were still strangers in that land as well.

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The More You Know

The Better You Can Stand

Now I know that I jumped ahead for a moment, but like I'd mentioned earlier, this is another one of those Scriptures that Bible critics try to use, when it comes to their outrageous "Bible contradictions" claims. But once again, the timeline plays a very important role. And once again, it's either ignored, or simply not known.

Please understand, I just want you to be able to stand in the upmost confidence, when it comes to the Word of God, and what it says about our Lord and Savior: Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. And this is why I'm taking the extra time, to point out the little things. And I'm doing this, even tough they may seem, to be small in detail, and might not seem like much. But in actuality, I truly believe that it's information that needs to be known and constantly digest, throughout your biblical studies.

In the next Bible Study Online Article:

In the next Bible study article, we'll discover, that things are going to get worse for the Israelites, being that Pharaoh has issued a decree, that all male newborns are to be killed at birth. We'll take a closer look, at why this was ordered, and the tools that Pharaoh had used, when it came to carrying out this wicked campaign against the Israelites.

May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support

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Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

Jacob Becomes Ill

The Prophecies of Jacob

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128) Moses the Historian

129) The Exodus Stage

130) The Fall of the Hyksos Kingdom

131) A New Pharaoh Rises

132) The Egyptian Affliction

133) Israel a Nation within Transition

134) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE->

135) The Hebrew Midwives - Shiphrah and Puah

136) Shiphrah and Puah - The Fear of God

137) Moses the Son of Levi

138) The Adopted Son of Egypt

139) Moses the Sympathetic Killer

140) Moses the Exiled Son

141) Moses Finds Refuge in Midian

142) Moses A Man On The Run

143) Moses the Midian Dweller

144) Moses In The Wilderness

145) The Call of Moses