Four or 400?

“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years” (Exodus 12:40).

Jacob’s descendants lived in the wicked world of Egypt for over 400 years. Although they belonged in Canaan, they moved south to escape famine. After the famine ended, they continued to live in Egypt. A generation later, the Pharaoh made slaves out of them, humiliating and abusing the beautiful descendants of Abraham.

Joseph invited the family down, three years into the seven-year famine. They could have moved back to Canaan after four short years. Why did they stay more than 400? Aside from prophetic reasons, for all practical purposes they found it easier to stay rather than move on and fulfill their God-given destiny.

You will at one point end up in a “foreign land.” You may have to take a job in a hostile, Godless environment. You only involve yourself to the level necessary. Do not become a slave to the sin and decadence around you. Do not identify with the wrongs of your neighborhood, culture, or workplace. Step out to be who God wants you to be. Do not adopt the attitude of the hate-speech, gossip-filled crowd. Just stay as long as necessary for survival. You do not have to learn the perverted jokes or twisted mindsets of our self-centered world.

I found secular college to be an intimidating land for five years. I had to enter that world for an education. I did not adopt the lawless culture around me. I refused to let their alcohol, lewdness, and profanity enslave me. In fact, I brought a few students to pursue righteousness during my sojourning. We serve a God who can take us through mucky situations without our lives getting splattered and tattered.

Consider your situation. Are you heading toward four centuries of bondage? Or will you graduate from your trial in short order? Even if you come from an abusive past or troubled youth, leave those scars behind and go on to the Promised Land of living in God’s favor. View your family, social, and corporate reprieves as temporary intervals in life. Remember, your destiny is a little further North.

The Exalted Servant

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).

Jacob’s son Joseph faced hateful brothers. Although his father loved him above all his brothers, they despised him and sold him as a slave. Young Joseph proved himself as a faithful worker for his master Potiphar in Egypt. His diligence and hard work got him promoted to chief over all the man owned. Yet one day he lost it all because of his master’s jealous wife. She figured if she could not have Joseph, then no one could and she had sent him to the dungeon.

In prison, Joseph excelled again and became second in command to the jailer. After a few years there, the king summoned him to interpret a dream. That began a new career for Joseph as this Pharaoh promoted him to being CEO of the entire nation. Joseph led the country through a time of great prosperity. When famine struck, his genius management kept the people from starving.

Joseph had to deal with forgiving his brothers, and he even providing for their needs. In every way, he proved to have noble character. Joseph foreshadows the life of Christ. Jesus came into a world of people who did not understand Him. They rejected Him. His own family turned against Him.

God came to earth in the person of His Son (Colossians 2:9). The Father sought to reach a lost world through the Messiah (II Corinthians 5:19). He came in poverty and simplicity (II Cor. 8:9). He lived simply and excelled at all He did.

At the peak of His popularity, jealous clergymen turned Him over to death. He submitted Himself to the dungeon of the grave, yet He could not stay dead. He came back, bringing life, hope, and peace for a soul-starved world. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to walk among us, and Ephesians 1:21 says He is now “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”

The One we pray to understands our hardships.