Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. (Psalm 78:12)
When we think of the marvelous things God did for the Exodus generation, our minds will logically go to the splitting of the sea, the giving of manna, water from the split rock etc. Indeed the psalmist emphasizes those many miracles over ensuing verses. However, this passage refers to those things He did in the land of Egypt which calls our attention to the plagues poured out. More importantly, it emphasizes God’s ability to shield Israel from those plagues even though they were in the midst of the land. Standing alone, any of these miracles would provoke someone to take note of the marvelous things He did for those who were there to witness them. But I want us to consider another work of God that isn’t so obvious but is as miraculous as the others.
At the beginning of the Exodus story, a new Pharaoh came to power and began to implement policies designed to restrain Israel, at first, but ultimately to destroy the people of God. Thus it is written, “They set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens…. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel” (Exodus 1:11-12). In other words, it is miraculous that an enslaved people who were oppressed, afflicted and marked for destruction could flourish under those circumstances. Not only flourish but, in spite of the nefarious intentions of others, grow in such a way that the oppressors grew to fear the oppressed.
This is yet another example of how God’s people exist solely because of the Almighty. Were it not for Divine interposition, there would be no people or nation called Israel. Furthermore it is abundantly clear that affliction and persecution, though intended to render destruction, is the very thing God uses to fan the flames of His purpose. Enslaved Israel grew in spite of the intense oppression. Centuries later, the Gospel of the Kingdom spread like wildfire in large part due to the persecution the early believers suffered (see Acts 8:1, 11:19). In short, what man intends for evil, God uses for good.
It would be advantageous for us to keep this in mind when we are being persecuted and oppressed. We shouldn’t think that, just because it appears wicked men have the upper hand, that the work of God has been stopped. To the contrary, the devices of wicked men often serve God’s greater purpose, unwittingly perhaps, but serve nevertheless. Finally, I would argue that part of that service is to provoke us to focus more on Him and His purpose for our life. If persecution is required to bring us to that place, then so be it; there is nothing more important that being in the perfect will of our God. And when we are where He wants us to be, even if that means in the midst of oppression, we will see marvelous things performed on our behalf.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments