Ruthless

Exodus 1:8-14

The people of Israel were in Egypt long enough for a king to arise who did not know Joseph. They also were fruitful. Exodus 1:7 says:

But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7 ESV)

“They multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.” In other words, they were mighty, and they had become a great nation. Also, “the land was filled with them.” They had become very numerous and spread throughout the land of Egypt. However, they did not assimilate. They did not become one people with the Egyptians. They still had their Israelite identity.

As time passed, a new king came to power who did not know Joseph. He either did not know the history or did not consider it relevant. Whatever the case, he no longer respected nor honored the special place the descendants of Israel held in Egypt. Therefore, Exodus 1:9-10 says:

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." (Exodus 1:9-10 ESV)

Let’s consider the motives he expresses. He says, “Lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” In this statement, two motives are expressed. First, the Egyptians feared defeat at the hand of their enemies. Second, they feared economic loss. They feared the power and numbers of the Israelites.

The Egyptians’ solution to the Israelites’ power and numbers was to deal shrewdly with them. “Come, let us deal shrewdly with them.” Fear of loss and fear of imagined dangers were the stated motives for plotting against the people of God. If Pharaoh had remembered Joseph, he might have been saved from making this mistake. When Joseph interpreted the king of Egypt’s dream, he started out by telling Pharaoh, “It is beyond my power to do this, but God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” (Genesis 41:16 NLT) From that point on, it is evident that Joseph talked about God a lot. He explained to Pharaoh that his dreams were from God. He told his brothers that God was at work when Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt.

The Egyptians were the descendants of Ham (Genesis 10:6, Psalm 105:23) As mixed up as their religious practices were, they still had in their collective memory the account of the flood and the notion of the one true God. Joseph preserved life by his deeds in Egypt and by his presence and life gave testimony to the one true God. His descendants and people, the Israelites, continued to give testimony to the one true God. So, in essence, the Egyptians were setting themselves up to oppose God, because in the Israelites’ cultural narrative, they were God’s chosen people. Opposition similar to the Egyptians’ is common and is still the case. Psalm 2 says:

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed. (Psalms 2:1-2 ESV)

When Jesus was handed over to be crucified, it was the same power at work in the hearts of men. John 13:2 says, “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him…” (John 13:2 ESV) The Jewish leaders were jealous of Jesus’ popularity, and the Roman leaders were fearful of uprising and rebellion. These different powers colluded together to crucify the Son of God, but behind it all was the prince and power of the air.

Psalms 2 asks why the nations rage and plot against the Lord’s anointed. This question is fit for any age. Egypt is a good example. They thought they were dealing shrewdly or wisely, but they were motivated by their fear and their greed and so they acted very foolishly.

Consider, with me, what the text says they did. Three verses explain what the Egyptians did. Exodus 1:11, 13-14.

Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.

So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (Exodus 1:11, 13-14 ESV)

Two things stand out because of their repetition in these verses, “ruthlessly” and “work as slaves.”

The phrase “work as slaves” is one word in the Hebrew text, which means to labor and also has the meaning of slavery or serving. God created work, and labor is not a bad thing. However, Exodus 1:11 says, “They set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens.” The purpose of the taskmasters was to afflict them. They were forced to labor, and they were forced to work for the benefit of others or to serve. Service can mean labor for the benefit of another. Voluntary service is a good thing, but slavery or forced service is thievery. Egypt boasted of its mighty cities Pithom and Raamses, but whose labor were they? We said they feared economic loss and were motivated by greed and the result is seen in the evil of slavery and theft.

The other word that stands out because of repetition in these verses is “ruthlessly.” Strongs explains the Hebrew word used as:

cruelty, rigor

From an unused root meaning to break apart; fracture, i.e. Severity -- cruelty.

I want to bring up a few verses related to this subject. I think of Psalms 18:25 that says, “With the merciful you show yourself merciful.” (Psalms 18:25 ESV) Our Lord Jesus also said, “"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 ESV) Ruthlessness, severity or cruelty are not virtues, and God does not speak kindly about such practices. James 2:13 is a case in point. “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.” (James 2:13 ESV) To be in power or authority over another person is an awesome responsibility and not to be treated lightly.

The Egyptians seized power and control because they feared the Israelites were too strong for them. They ruthlessly used the Israelites out of fear. But, look at what Exodus 1:12 says.

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. (Exodus 1:12 ESV)

You will notice that the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. Their fear led them to actions that only increased their dread.

They desired gain, so they enslaved the Israelites. They were afraid, so they were ruthless. The results will be shown as the Israelites leave a country decimated by plagues. However, the effect on the Israelites is outlined in Exodus 1:12. “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad.”

Stress and challenges are necessary for all living things to grow. If you want to grow big muscles, you must lift heavy things. This is why exercise is both necessary and effective.

Consider with me the spiritual principle involved. It is expressed succinctly in James 1:2-4.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV)

God’s purpose is that we might be lacking in nothing. However, the route to this state lies through trials of various kinds. This principle also is taught in Hebrews 12:5-7.

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (Hebrews 12:5-7 ESV)

God does not allow testing because He hates us, or is angry with us. He allows testing because He loves us.

At times, it seems as if the testing we are going through is more than we can endure. We will see this in the book of Exodus as the Egyptians ratchet up their persecution of the Israelites. Another important spiritual principle is involved here. The Scriptures say:

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

God will not allow the temptation to be more than you can endure. There is an important point to be made here. Tests and trials come. Tests and trials differ from the consequences of sin. God warns us not to sin and tells us that sin leads to death. Testing and trials will strengthen us. Consequences can destroy us.

In today’s text, the Israelites are experiencing testing and trials; The Egyptians are ruthless, and they are looking at consequences. Trials usually come in a way that leaves us wondering what the reasons for the testing might be, but consequences are clear. God warned the Egyptians, “Let my people go, or I am going to bring plagues on you.” The problem with consequences is that they are always greater than we understand and affect way more than we ever expect. If we ignore God’s warnings like we will see the Egyptians do, the consequences will go way beyond what we anticipate.

Testing, unlike consequences, only serves to make us stronger. The more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. This is true also of the history of the Church. The more the Church has been persecuted, the more it has multiplied and spread.

Consider with me what Psalm 105 says about the events in Exodus.

And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants. (Psalms 105:24-25 NLT)

The Psalmist says the Lord turned the Egyptians against the Israelites. The Bible tells us that the Lord cannot be tempted by evil nor does He tempt anyone (James 1:13). Therefore, God is allowing something that is in the hearts of people to grow and lead them to the natural conclusion. This is also what happened with our salvation, as the believers prayed in Acts concerning the events in Jerusalem:

…for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:27-28 ESV)

Jesus willingly gave His life. From the human side, He was betrayed. Judas was responsible for that. He was brought to trial. The Jewish leaders were responsible for that. He was condemned. Pilate was responsible for that. However, God’s hand and plan had predestined these things to take place. Greed was a motive. Fear was a motive. And, along with other motives, people were moved to ruthlessly persecute the Lord of Glory. God caused these things to work together for our salvation.

In Exodus, God was working things towards the deliverance of His people from Egypt.

In our day, God is working things toward the consummation of the ages. He is working things toward the day when Jesus returns. Greed and fear and human folly will play a great role. The world and the devil are ruthless, and consequences will be without mercy, but the trial of believers will only serve to multiply and spread them.

In your life, greed and fear have consequences. Those that fear you will persecute you. Those controlled by greed will take advantage of you. However, God will keep the trial from ever being more than you can handle, and in the end will bring you to glory with all His children. Because He is at work so that you will be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.

Joseph, Slave in Egypt

Exodus 1:8

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. (Exodus 1:8 ESV)

As we enter into the book of Exodus, we encounter Joseph. Exodus 1:5 says:

All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. (Exodus 1:5 ESV)

After telling us that Joseph was already in Egypt, the author then tells us:

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. (Exodus 1:8 ESV)

Can we assume that we know who Joseph is? He is the one who received the “technicolor dream coat” from his father. But, do we really know Joseph? Do we understand what he lived for and what his ambitions were? What made him great? Was he great?

I think of our own country. We all know the name of Abraham Lincoln, but do we know him? Was he a great man? What did he stand for? I think of his Gettysburg address where at the conclusion he said:

-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Freedom and government of the people, by the people, for the people were the principles that he espoused and lived and died for. However, although we know some details of his life, we know only a small portion of what he said and did. Even so, his influence continues to affect us today.

The same can be said of Joseph. Although he passed away millennia ago, his influence affects us even today.

Joseph started out as the favorite of his father. He was born 12th out of 13. However, what made him special in his father’s eyes was the fact that he was the son of the woman that Jacob loved. Jacob had four wives. However, when he spoke of what grieved him most in life he said:

Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One left me, and I said, "Surely he has been torn to pieces," and I have never seen him since. (Genesis 44:27-28 ESV)

I am looking at this statement right now because this is Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, speaking. Judah was born through Jacob’s wife Leah. This statement by Jacob does not even recognize his other wives and children. What does Jacob mean by “two sons” when he has 12, and what does he mean by “my wife” when he has four wives? We can explain this away as just a matter of speech and the moment, but this is a picture of how Jacob lived. Joseph was his father’s favorite just as his mother, Rachel, was his father’s favorite, and his father demonstrated it in extreme ways. This is why the colorful robe is so significant. Jacob was literally dressing his favorite boy up as royalty and in the face of all his brothers.

Jacob’s extreme behavior and favoritism of his young son was the root of great bitterness among Joseph’s older brothers. This set Joseph apart from his earliest days. It also set him up to be hated by his brothers. Joseph was a special child and a blessing, but so were each of Jacob’s children. Of each one, it is said that God gave them. Each of Jacob’s children was a gift from God, and each needed to be loved.

As parents, we must see that every child is honored for the treasure that he or she is. I am not talking about favoritism or worship like Joseph experienced. And we all know that Proverb 13:24 says:

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. (Proverbs 13:24 ESV)

We discipline and train our children carefully and thoughtfully because we love them. It seems to go without saying that if we are to love our neighbor as ourself, we should at least count our children as a neighbor. I think of the principle of 1 Timothy 5:8.

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8 ESV)

It should be clear that to love and care for each person is an essential part of providing. God has singled out each of us and communicated His love by giving His only Son to die for us. This is the love of a father. God provides everything we need. How much are we as fathers focused on what our children need? Jacob was focused on his own needs and not those of his sons, and this seems to be a problem in many households.

Joseph was special.  He knew he was special and it became a problem.

Genesis relates the story of Joseph’s two dreams. In his first dream, he and his brothers were working in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Joseph’s bundle stood up, and all his brothers’ bundles bowed to his bundle. Joseph should have kept this to himself, but he told it to his brothers. His brothers hated him before this because of their father’s favoritism. They hated him even more for his arrogance. They were wounded by their father’s comparative treatment of Joseph and angered by Joseph’s flaunting of his preferred position. Then Joseph shared a second dream. This time the Sun, Moon and 11 stars bowed low before him. Again, God’s message was for Joseph, and yet Joseph told it to brothers who already hated him.

Things got so bad in the family that 11 men plotted together to kill their 17-year-old little brother. These were men. We are not talking about children doing childish things. Joseph was spared when Judah suggested they sell him as a slave.

Having been purchased by a high government official, Joseph served his master faithfully for years and ended up as the manager of the household. Everything he did was successful. However, his master’s wife had a thing for Joseph. Joseph refused her advances day after day. Then finally she got angry and accused him of rape. Thus, Joseph ended up in jail.

Genesis tells us that Joseph served the other prisoners so well that the jailer put him in charge of the jail. However, if we look in the Psalms, we find more information about his imprisonment.  Psalm 105:16-19 says:

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. (Psalms 105:16-19 ESV)

These verses tell us a great deal about Joseph’s sufferings. I want to consider with you what verse 18 says. The ESV translates this verse as:

His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron (Psalms 105:18 ESV)

This is not a mistranslation, but it is not precisely what is written. Young’s Literal Translation says,

They have afflicted with fetters his feet, Iron hath entered his soul, (Psalms 105:18 YLT)

The word translated as soul by Young is “nephesh,” and it means:

a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

In other words, Psalm 105:18 is saying that the iron made its way down into Joseph’s very person. According to Ellicott’s commentary, the Latin Vulgate translates this phrase, “the iron passed through his soul.”^[1]

Iron passing through the soul is not a reference to Joseph being as strong as iron. Instead, it is a reference to his great, deep suffering. More than the physical suffering was the anguish of his soul.

A.W. Tozer said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.”^[2]

As Psalm 105:19 says, Joseph’s imprisonment was the word of God testing Joseph. It seems apparent that as brilliant as Joseph was, he needed to get over his privileged upbringing.

The same can be said of many of God’s servants. Let’s just consider two others, Moses and David. Moses knew he was called but ended up watching sheep in the wilderness for 40 years. David was anointed king but spent approximately 8 years running from Saul in the wilderness. When we examine the lives of great men of God, we find this pattern of suffering and testing.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in his book, The Gulag Archipelago, says:

In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel. In the surfeit of power I was a murderer, and an oppressor. In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments. And it was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts... So, bless you, prison, for having been in my life.^[3]

Joseph could have said, “In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible.” However, because of God’s work in his life, he said to his brothers,

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:20-21 ESV)

Joseph was a great man, but his road there was through suffering and hardship. After his time in prison, Joseph was elevated to ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. He built cities and saved the lives of the Egyptians as well as the Hebrews. In his statement to his brothers, we see that for Joseph it was about what God was doing and it was about keeping many people alive. He had learned humility, forgiveness and kindness. He spoke kindly to his brothers. He comforted them.

Let’s consider Psalm 105:16-17. It says,

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. (ESV)

You will notice that the Psalmist says that God summoned the famine and that it was God who sent Joseph ahead. This echoes the words of Joseph to his brothers where he says “God meant it for good.” Joseph had unshakable confidence in both God’s goodness and God’s sovereignty. This is something we all must learn. At one point, God told a king named Ahaz,

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (Isaiah 7:9 NIV)

This is true of all of us. It is not that we do not ever doubt. However, we must have a firm foundation fixed on the word of God so that we can stand in the day of testing.

The day of testing comes for all of us. Ephesians 6:13 tells us:

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13 NIV)

This verse does not say “if the day of evil comes.” It says, “when the day of evil comes.” The day of evil will come, but it comes under the control of God and with his loving care. It comes only to consume our dross and refine our gold. When the iron passes through your soul, it comes to make you strong in faith.

---

^[1]https://biblehub.com/psalms/105-18.htm accessed March 22, 2019

^[2] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/700558 accessed March 22, 2019

^[3] Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956. Quoted in Joseph, Charles R. Swindon. Word Publishing, 1998. pg. 41.

The Sons of Israel

Exodus 1:1-7

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: (Exodus 1:1 ESV)

Who are these “sons of Israel” who moved to Egypt, and from where did they move to Egypt?

Israel is the name given by God to Isaac’s son Jacob.

Isaac was the son of Abraham. Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldeans. Chaldean is another name for Babylonian. Babylonia got its name from the Tower of Babel, which was built on the plains of Shinar, which is where Ur was located.

Genesis 12:1-2 tells us:

Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-2 ESV)

God was calling Abraham out from his country and even family to be a separate and distinct nation and people. Abraham took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions and moved, settling in the land of Canaan, which is now called Palestine, and includes Israel, and parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Abraham and Sarai were two people, and Lot was a possible heir since Abraham did not have any children. Abraham was 75, which is late for starting a distinct people group.

In Genesis 15, God reiterated His promise of the land of Canaan to Abraham, defining boundaries that have yet to be fully realized. Genesis 15:18 says:

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, (Genesis 15:18 ESV)

In a time of famine, Abraham took his wife and moved to Egypt. (Genesis 12:10, Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.) Perhaps Abraham doubted God’s promise, or maybe he planned to wait out the famine. However, a problem developed. Abraham was afraid of the people of the land. His wife was beautiful, and he feared they would kill him and take her. Because of his fear, Abraham lied saying Sarai was his sister. This ended up with Abraham being asked to leave the country along with his sister/wife. (“Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” Genesis 12:19 ESV) Because of this incident, Abraham ended up back in the land of Canaan.

Finally, in his old age, Abraham had a son, Isaac. Isaac was not much more fruitful than Abraham, having only two sons. During Isaac’s life, there was another famine. However, this time God appeared to Isaac and said: “Do not go down to Egypt.” (Genesis 26:2)

Jacob grew up in a family where he heard that God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants. He also learned that trips down to Egypt did not end well, and God had forbidden his father Isaac from going down to Egypt.

Jacob traveled outside of Canaan. He lied to his father and received the blessing meant for his brother. In response, his brother swore to kill him. So, Jacob fled to Paddan-aram, or toward Haran, and spent over 20 years with his mother’s brother, Laban. While in the area of Paddan-aram, Jacob had a bunch of children. By the time he left Paddan-aram, he had 12 children, 11 boys and one girl. Family troubles with his father-in-law drove him back to Canaan. Jacob was a schemer, which caused a lot of trouble.

For this family, Canaan was the promised land, and Egypt was to be avoided.

Having settled in Canaan, Jacob’s family grew, but they stuck together. They also had a lot of what we might call drama. Jacob’s youngest son, Benjamin, was the only son born to Jacob in Canaan. Here is the list of the sons of Jacob, also known as Israel, from Exodus 1.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. (Exodus 1:2-4 ESV)

This list is interesting for its order. Here is a chart or family tree of Jacob with the birth order listed. 

From this, we get the birth order: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.

Let’s compare the two lists side by side.

Reuben	Reuben
Simeon	Simeon
Levi	Levi
Judah	Judah
Issachar	Dan
Zebulun	Naphtali
Benjamin	Gad
Dan	Asher
Naphtali	Issachar
Gad	Zebulun
Asher	Joseph
	Benjamin

The difference in these two lists is: one is birth order, and the other is the birth order of each particular wife, and as Exodus 1:5 points out, Joseph was already in Egypt. Birth order was not nearly as important as the fact that daddy had favorites, favorite wives and favorite sons.

This family was messed up. That is why Joseph was already down in Egypt. His brothers had planned on killing him but had sold him into slavery as an alternative to murder. Selling your brother as a slave does not represent brotherly love. This list of names brings to mind the dysfunction of this family.

We all are the products of dysfunctional families, and all our families are dysfunctional to some degree. Dysfunction is the result of sin, and not one of us is free of sin. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Exodus is about God delivering His people out of slavery. The strongest parallel we have in our lives today is God delivering us out of our slavery to sin. However, God does not deliver the one who does not call on Him for deliverance. In other words, we must recognize our slavery before we can be delivered from our slavery. What we are looking at today in Exodus 1 are the sons of Israel before they realized their need for a deliverer.

These people, this family, is very quickly coming to the extinction point. It is about to explode. They all are about to go their separate ways, driven apart by infighting, backbiting, lust, selfishness and sin. In addition, 200 years have passed since God promised Abraham to make them into a great nation, and they only number 70 people. This does not represent significant growth.

Let’s consider these sons of Israel, starting with Reuben: Guilty of incest, he slept with his father’s concubine, Rachel’s servant Bilhah. (Genesis 35:22) Jacob said he would not put confidence in his firstborn.

"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!” (Genesis 49:3-4 ESV)

Wow, talk about sexual issues in a family! We do not talk about it, but nearly 1 in 3 women have experienced sexual abuse of some sort. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports:

Nearly 3 in 10 women (29%) and 1 in 10 men (10%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by a partner and report a related impact on their functioning.^[1]

My point is that this family was facing issues that face our families today. Hopefully, these things are not in your family, but I know better. These things have touched many of our lives.

As we continue through the list of names we will not spend time on everyone but will hit the highlights. Simeon and Levi are worth noting because although they did it in the name of defending their sister’s honor, they were mass murderers. When their sister Dinah was raped, they murdered everyone in the city of Shechem. They killed the rapist, his father, his neighbors and every male in his town. The women and children were spared because they were worth money. Here is what Jacob said about them:

Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5-7 ESV)

Judah had twins by the widow of one of his sons. It is a long story, but his daughter-in-law knew that if she sat out by the road dressed as a prostitute, Judah would be sure to make a stop. Family has a way of knowing our habits. Nowadays Judah would have a pornography addiction.

These people were not that different from people today. We all come from dysfunctional families. Families are all affected by sin.

As we continue with the story of the leader of this family, Jacob, we see that he grew old, which is the way all of us go if we do not die. Now, Jacob thought his favorite son, Joseph, was dead, because of lies his other sons had told him. Then there was a famine. Unlike the famines in Abraham and Isaac’s lives, this famine extended down into Egypt. However, Jacob heard there was food in Egypt, and that is when he learned that his boys had been lying to him and Joseph was still alive.

Israel mourned and wept and complained at different points about his hard lot in life. Now, at the end of his life, he was faced with going down to Egypt.

Have you ever felt like your life is going down the tubes?

I mean, you can almost hear the giant flush as everything falls apart. Not only do you come from a dysfunctional family, but bills, problems and difficulties keep piling up.

Listen to how Jacob talked as he worked through the difficulties leading up to the trip to Egypt. This is taken from Judah’s words to Joseph:

“Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One left me, and I said, "Surely he has been torn to pieces," and I have never seen him since. If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.'” (Genesis 44:27-29 ESV)

This is Jacob whining. We all whine, some more than others. Jacob felt like his life was falling apart, and that nothing was working out as he had planned. When he gave an account of his life, he said:

Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, (Genesis 47:9 ESV)

Jacob was 130 years old when he said this. The oldest person alive today is a 116 year old woman in Japan. I guess “few” is a relative term.

At the point that Jacob felt like his life was coming apart, God appeared to him and said:

"I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes." (Genesis 46:3-4 ESV)

Look at how God spoke to Jacob. He comforted him. Poor weak Jacob, “don’t be afraid.”

How many of us are afraid?

All of us are afraid of something. Fear is why we must learn to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us.

Look again at the promise.  God says, “I myself will go down with you to Egypt.”

In our messed up world, it does not seem like it, but God is with us. He is near to all who call on Him. If you have not called on Him, if you make yourself His enemy, consider changing your course, because you cannot win until you surrender.

So, everything fell apart and what Jacob feared came about. He and his family moved to Egypt. How did it work out?

Exodus 1:7 says:

But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7 ESV)

God kept His promise, and they became a great nation.

We are going to see this more in the book of Exodus. We understand that God uses all the circumstances of life, both good and evil, to accomplish His purposes.

We see this in the message of Romans 8:28.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Each of us has a vision of what the good should look like, but I want us to consider that what we want is not what God has in mind. He tells us in Romans 8:29 what is good and what he is doing.  He says:

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29 ESV)

God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His son, and that is what is going to happen. It may not be what we expect, and it may not be comfortable. It might mean a trip down to Egypt, but God will do what He has promised.

Cast all your anxiety (fear) onto Him, because He cares for you.

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^[1] https://www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics. Accessed March 16, 2019.

Established

Romans 16:21-27

We have come to the end of the book of Romans, and in his final words of farewell, Paul again shows his concern for the believers in Rome.

In his introduction to the letter, Paul gives his reason for writing and expresses a strong desire to see the Church in Rome. In Romans 1:11, he says:

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— (Romans 1:11 ESV)

His longing to see the Church in Rome is tied to his desire to strengthen them. This intense desire to strengthen the Church flows through the book of Romans and is also expressed in his final words of farewell.

The Church is made up of individuals, and the process of strengthening the body involves the strengthening of the individual members of the body. In Romans 16:25, Paul says, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you...” He is talking about strengthening the body by strengthening the individuals in the body. The book of Romans begins and ends with this idea of strengthening. Paul’s concern and desire for the believers in Rome was that they might be strengthened.

What does he mean by “strengthen,” and why is it so important to him?

The word he uses for “strengthen” in Romans 1:11 and 16:25 can also be translated “establish” or to “fix firmly.” The root of the word means “to stand.” The idea of strengthening comes from buttressing a wall or pillar so that it stands firm. It shares this concept of standing with Ephesians 6:13-14 which says:

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, (Ephesians 6:13-14 ESV)

“Strengthening” or “establishing” therefore, in this context, means to make strong so something can stand. The something in our subject today is you and I. It is the individual believers that together make up the body of Christ, the Church.

This strengthening as a subject begins and ends Paul’s letter to the Romans, and encompasses the whole of his purpose and subject matter.

Why is this strengthening so significant to Paul?

In Romans 16, Paul has warned us to be aware of those who cause divisions and raise obstacles. He does this out of concern for our well-being.

Please notice the kinds of issues Paul wrote to confront in the churches of his day. The Galatians were deserting the Gospel for a religion of works righteousness. The Corinthians were embracing incest as an expression of their freedom in Christ. The Colossians were adopting philosophical expansions of the Gospel that boasted of “special” knowledge. Compare this with what we confront today. We face these same challenges to our faith and in ever-increasing variety. The basics do not change, but the same lies are presented creatively so that they seem new. In addition to threats from within, the Church of Paul’s day faced opposition from the outside. The government and religions of his day opposed the Gospel and Paul’s preaching. The same challenges face the Church today. Our media and universities tend to be hostile to the gospel, and many of our churches have deserted the Gospel. Our culture and many of our churches are embracing sexual practices that defy God and what He calls sin.

With the devil roaming about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, Paul had reason to be concerned that his spiritual children should stand. The same devil and the same attacks are in the world today. The tactics and schemes of the devil have not changed, and Paul’s warnings and instructions are as applicable today as they were 2,000 years ago. The battle is real. Not everyone stands. Among our children, among our families and in our community are those who are being mauled by the devil.

Romans 16:25 says:

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages (Romans 16:25 ESV)

Take time to look carefully at the first phrase of this passage. It says, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you.” This statement is clear. God is able to strengthen/establish us. God is able. He is not lacking in power or wisdom to deal with what is confronting us today. 1 John 4:4 tells us that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. It says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them.” Therefore, it is clear that we are not to live in fear of what confronts us. We are able to stand because God is able to make us stand.

While we are not called on to stand in our own strength, we are called on to stand in the strength that God provides. The passage quoted above from Ephesians 6 is an excellent example of our call to stand. Ephesians 6:13-14 calls upon us to stand. We are to stand in the strength and with the tools that God provides. Romans 16:25 tells us what God uses to strengthen/establish us. It says:

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages (Romans 16:25 ESV)

According to this verse, God uses the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ. The preaching of Jesus Christ is the gospel. Jesus Christ is the One that the gospel tells about. Any gospel that denies or focuses on any person’s work other than Jesus Christ’s is no gospel at all. Paul is careful to say “my gospel,” because many come with variations of the gospel. There are even those who claim to be the Messiah. This is why Paul found it necessary to say “and the preaching of Jesus Christ. Paul did not own the gospel. In Galatians, he even says that if he were to preach a different gospel than the one he presented, then he should be cursed. (Galatians 1:8) There is only one gospel. However, there are many distortions of the gospel. The purpose of the book of Romans was and is to establish the gospel forever. John 3:16 is the gospel in a nutshell. Romans is the gospel defined and outlined.

To be strengthened/established, we dare not take away from the gospel. The first chapters of Romans explain sin. We must have a clear understanding of sin, and any attempt to deal with sin apart from the gospel is to take away from the gospel. Romans goes on to talk about faith, the Holy Spirit, God’s sovereignty and our service. Every aspect of our lives is affected by the gospel, and every truth of the gospel is important. Some try to simplify the gospel down to its John 3:16 form. The truth of John 3:16 is precious to us as believers. In it, we have the gospel in all its fullness. However, this is not where we stop. There are depths to the gospel that we desire to plunge into and grow in understanding. For example, an understanding of sin makes the truth of God’s love and the giving of His Son that much more precious to us. So also, an understanding of faith, God’s sovereignty, and our service also make the truth of God’s love and the giving of His Son that much more precious to us. It is essential that we do not take away from the gospel.

In the same way, it is essential we do not add to the gospel. Many would like to add rules. The devil has used this trap effectively since Paul’s day. In different ages, he has used different rules. You have to be circumcised. You should not play cards. You should not smoke. You should not dance. Rules may seem to be of benefit. After all, health is important, and lust needs to be restrained. However, the gospel is not about rules.

Children, we are talking about the gospel, not your parents’ rules. Wise, loving parents set up rules for your protection and growth. We live in a world where rules are necessary, even for us adults. We all have speed limits, taxes and jobs, all governed by rules. However, it is vital that we not confuse our rules with the gospel. Rules are a part of life, and as such, tend to enter into our understanding of the gospel.

I have now introduced two dangers with the gospel. We can take truths out of the gospel to fit our emotions or simplify our understanding, or we can add things to the gospel to fit our emotions and our understanding.

How are we to avoid these dangers?

Paul has already pointed us to the answer. He said, “My gospel and the preach of Jesus Christ.” However, he does not end with these words. He continues to give more information. Romans 16:25-26 says:

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— (Romans 16:25-26 ESV)

If we pay careful attention to what Paul is saying, we see that his gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ is according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. The gospel is the mystery that has been revealed. We know that it was kept secret. The Old Testament is the beginning and foundation of the revelation of this mystery. 1 Peter 1:10-12 explains:

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12 ESV)

This mystery is so great that even angels long to look into it. According to Romans 16 and 1 Peter, this mystery has now been made known. Romans 16:26 says it has been “disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations.”

The prophetic writings refer to the Hebrew Scriptures that we call the Old Testament. A thorough understanding of the Old Testament is necessary for an understanding of the gospel. We must begin with an understanding of God as creator and man as His creation. We must understand what took place in the Garden of Eden and who the serpent is in order to understand the gospel. We must understand God’s promises to Abraham and the children of Israel in order to understand God’s plan and design for the future. God has commanded that all these things be made known in order to bring about the obedience of faith.

We must not fall. We must stand.

God is able to make us stand. He is able to strengthen us.

God uses the gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures to strengthen us so that we can stand.

I cannot stress to you enough how important the Bible is for our spiritual growth and strength. I want to leave you with a thought from Hebrews 4:11-12:

Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:11-12 ESV)

Wolves

Romans 16:17-20

We are at the close of Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome.

In writing to believers he had never met, Paul was also writing to us. The Holy Spirit used Paul to record God’s word for all believers. We are the spiritual descendants of the Roman Christians and can count the book of Romans as written to us.

As we come to Romans 16:17, Paul has just expressed how precious these believers are to him. Out of the abundance of his affection for them, he makes an appeal. As an Apostle, he could command them. As their leader, he could make demands upon their loyalty. However, he chooses to appeal to them.

Appealing to us in a humble, affectionate way, is Paul’s way. Consider Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God...” Even his manner of addressing them is in keeping with his humility and gentleness. He calls us brothers. In our American culture, he would, of course, say “brothers and sisters,” because he means to address all believers in an inclusive and affectionate manner. This is an example for us. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul says:

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. (1 Timothy 5:1-2 ESV)

We should not be harsh and demanding with each other.

In a gentle, affectionate way, Paul appeals to us and says, “Watch out for those who cause divisions...”

This is a warning. The New Testament gives a few warnings like it. Here are a few of them:

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:28-30 ESV)

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:15-16 ESV)

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 ESV)

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

Like wolves attacking sheep and lions devouring prey, those who cause divisions are to be watched.

Have you ever watched a prairie dog village? They are hard to sneak up on. They always keep watch and at the slightest disturbance disappear into their holes. They are vigilant because those who are not vigilant are dead. Hawks, coyotes and bobcats are just a few of the creatures who think prairie dogs are fine eat’n. Those who cause divisions and raise obstacles are a couple of the critters that think souls make fine eat’n.

Paul’s warning is to keep an eye on those who cause divisions and create obstacles. We all know what division looks like. Another word for this is strife. Look out for those who cause strife. Obstacles in Romans 16:17 is another word for stumbling blocks. A stumbling block for the Gentiles of Paul’s day would have been a requirement to be circumcised to be a Christian. It would be a stumbling block today.

Teachings abound that are stumbling blocks. Some teach that one cannot be a Christian and listen to the wrong music, wear the wrong clothes, breathe the wrong smoke, or drink the wrong drinks.

How are we to know which side of a division to be on? How are we to know which teachings are legitimate and which ones are divisive?

The line is drawn for us by Paul in verse 17. He says, “...contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.”

This is very important.

Paul assumes that the average believer is able to discern from what has been taught, i.e., the Bible, what is true and consistent with Scripture. What has been taught is recorded in the pages of Scripture, and Paul lays on us the responsibility of weighing the words of teachers against the text.

In Galatians Paul says,

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 ESV)

The word of God is essential for us as believers! In his history, Luke took special note of the Berean, because they measured the teachings of Paul against the text of Scripture. Please notice, Paul does not leave himself out of the curse when he says, “...even if we.”

Paul had experience with wolves. Galatians was written because some people came teaching that believers had to be circumcised and keep the law that was given by Moses. They said Christians should eat kosher, observe the Sabbath and observe Jewish religious practices.  These stumbling blocks started almost as soon as Gentiles started coming to Christ. Acts tells us:

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. (Acts 15:1-2 ESV)

These events took place in Antioch, the church that sent Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries, and these events took place after the completion of Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey. By the time he wrote Romans, Paul understood wolves, thus, his warning, “Watch out!”

Notice, what Paul says about wolves in Romans 16:18. “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ.” Of course, we understand that this is exactly what wolves claim for themselves. This is why Jesus described them as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Look at what Paul said about his opponents when he was imprisoned in Rome.

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. (Philippians 1:15-17 ESV)

Wolves are motivated by selfish ambition. In Romans 16:18, Paul says that they do not serve Jesus, but rather they serve their own appetites. Service to appetites is behind their mode of operation. Wolves use “smooth talk and flattery” to deceive the hearts of the naive.

In Colossians, Paul says:

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)

Empty words and flattery are a ready trap for the foolishly naive and unsuspecting.

In Romans 16:19, Paul points out the attractiveness of us as believers. Our obedience is known to all. This makes us targets for those who wish to gather a following. Just as Paul expresses his joy at the Romans’ fruitfulness and obedience, so too, the wolf would like to gain easy fruit. Therefore, Paul says, “I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” He does not say “ignorant of what is evil.” He says “innocent.”

This takes us back to what we said about teaching contrary to “the doctrine you have been taught.” Doctrine is contained in the word of God, the Bible. Do not be intimidated by the word “doctrine.” Doctrine is just another word for teaching. A school child can grasp the truth of the gospel as taught in the word of God. However, we are not to remain school children in our understanding. Paul encourages us to be wise. Wisdom implies growth in both knowledge and understanding.

When God set up the rules for the kings of the nation of Israel to follow, He laid out the following rule:

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ESV)

Do you notice what is used to keep the heart of the king?

He was to read the word of God every day of his life.

The word of God is sufficient to make a king, or the naive, wise.

In Paul’s warning, we see the danger is real, and it is great. However, we do not need to live in fear. Romans 16:20 says:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20 ESV)

In this verse, we see the opposite of divisions and obstacles. We see the God of peace. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness... (Galatians 5:22) We also see the real enemy, the one driving the wolves. Hallelujah! Satan will soon be crushed under our feet. We will not crush him; the God of peace will do that.

The Scriptures tell us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. The Scriptures tell us:

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 ESV)

We are to be alert. We are not to fall asleep or be lulled into complacency. And, we are not to live in fear. We are to put on the whole armor of God: the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, and we are to have our one offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It is sharper than any double-edged sword and can split between bones and marrow and even divide between the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.

I want to close with words the Apostle Paul first addressed to the believers in Colossae.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Colossians 2:8-10 ESV)

Watch out for anything that would draw you away from the purity of your devotion to Jesus Christ.