The conditions under which the Israelites lived, during their later years in Egypt, were conducive to producing a slave mentality. No doubt many of the young workers would have rebellious thoughts, but as the years passed, they would fall into the routine. If they had a place to live, foot to eat, and could get through the day without a lashing from their overseer, all was well. Some of them had never known anything else.
They were surrounded by the worship of the gods of Egypt and, until the plagues, had nothing else to put in their place except the teachings passed on by word of mouth from one generation to another. It is hardly surprising that they needed ten plagues to impress on them the Might and Majesty of the God of Israel. “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightiest know that the Lord, He is God: there is none else beside Him. (Deuteronomy 1:35)
It also took some time for the Egyptians to learn that the God of Israel was greater than the gods they worshiped. “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the Children of Israel from among them. (Exodus 7:5). Upon their (Egypt’s) gods also the Lord executed judgments.” (Numbers 33:1).
During their wandering in the wilderness, God provided time for the Israelites to learn to think for themselves instead of just obeying orders as they had done for so many years. Some learned some did not.
We go through much the same process as they did, only under conditions suitable to our circumstances.
| The Israelites | Ourselves |
| Were slaves in the Land of Egypt, their whole lives regulated by their task-masters. (Exodus.) By God’s grace, they were taken out of Egypt (Psalm 81:10) (Daniel 9:15) | Before coming to a knowledge of the Truth, we are slaves to sin, with no hope of redeeming ourselves. (Romans 6:13) By God’s grace we are taken out of the world. (Acts 15:14) |
| Baptized unto Moses in the sea and the cloud (1 Cor 10:1-2) Wandered in the wilderness of Sin. (Exodus 16:1) | Baptized into the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-4). During our probation we, too, wander in Wilderness of Sin. (Titus 2:11-12) |
| Their goal is the promise land. (Deut, 11:9) | Our goal is the promised Kingdom, (Acts 11:22) |
| Sustained in the wilderness by manna, bread from heaven. (Nehemiah 9:15) | Sustained by Jesus “Bread from heaven”. (John 6:32-33) |
| Trails came and some of them wanted to return to Egypt. (Numbers 14:1-3) | When trails come some of them leave the truth and return to the world. (2 Timothy 4:10) (Matt 13:22) |
| They remembered only the good things of Egypt the leeks, garlic, onions, melons (Numbers 11:5) and rebuked Moses saying “Because there were no graves in Egypt not true. (Exodus, 14:11) | We look back on former times, often called “the good old days,” forgetting the problems and remembering the good things. |
| Manna was always there for them, but they grew tired of it and wished for other food. (Numbers 11:5-6) | We get “weary of well-doing” and sometimes look at the attractions of life outside the truth (Galatians 6:9) |
| After many trials and many years those who remained faithful entered the promised land. (Joshua, ) | After many trails if we remain faithful we will enter the kingdom. (Matthew 28) |
It is so easy to see where others go astray and we wonder it their lack of truth i the presence of the wonders performed by God in their behalf.
Are we not in the same position as they were. We have seen the wonders of fulfilled prophecy even as they could see the plagues sent by God on Egypt we have the Word of God in our Bibles to read whenever we want to and can approach the lather in prayer and yet our truth wanes it times. It is not that we doubt God’s ability to do things for us, but at times we wonder if He will Yet we have the assurance that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them (Psalm 31:15)
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One