Exo 1:11 And they put over them slavemasters in order to afflict them with their burdens.
Maybe it is a little presumptuous of me, but what is happening to me, I believe is prophetic of what is happening to many in God’s camp.
The people of Israel had lived peaceably in Egypt for many, many years. They enjoyed a good relationship with the people of the world(Egypt), prospering underneath the covering of the Pharoahs. But eventually God wanted to move them on from that cosy little arrangement just like an eagle will stand in it’s nest and flap it’s giant wings until all the feathers in the soft nest are blown away leaving the fledgling feeling discomforted.
I have been very comfortable for years. Now I find myself in a job that is very demanding physically. The money is lower than I have been paid for easier jobs in the past. The hours are longer.
As I lay in bed last night I asked the Lord about what He is doing in my life. His response was, “Page 74.” In my Bible which is next to my bed, page 74 is Exodus Chapter 1.
In order to bring Israel to a place where they would cry out for deliverance He brought affliction upon them by having them do hard labour under hard task masters. The good times that they had basked in had come to an end. Like labour pains that begin to force the baby down the birth canal into a position suitable for the appearing of the head, so Israel were being pushed into position. They went through the broken waters of the Red Sea and were born again coming out on dry land on the other side.
Paul said we must all enter the Kingdom through many tribulations. This is a constant law of the spirit. Tribulation means pressure, trouble, vexation, straitness, narrow, confined.
Been under any pressure lately? Your Father is using these situations like contractions in the womb of life to move you further into position to be birthed as a son of God ready to be revealed in the last times. The sons have been prepared for many years in the shadows of Egypt. They have not understood what God is doing to them and with them, but they have said, “Yes Lord” many times.
Out of Egypt I called My Son – says the Scriptures–this also is a spiritual principle. In Egypt we almost lose our identity…no…what we lose is our religion and the ego.
“In the world you WILL HAVE TRIBULATION…”said Jesus…another spiritual principle.
It is necessary for us to be trained by tribulation and pressure that presses against the cocoon which is our outer man so that the inner man may come forth and shine brightly in the new day.
Exo 1:12 And as much as they afflicted them, so much they multiplied and so much they spread. And they were afraid before the sons of Israel.
The pressure only serves to expose the Son of God within us.
Exo 1:13 And Egypt made the sons of Israel to serve with harshness.
Exo 1:14 And they made their lives bitter by hard service, in clay, and in bricks, and in all work in the field; all their work which they made them do with harshness.
The furnace of affliction is any place you find yourself being sorely tempted. It is any place you find yourself being pressured beyond strength, wondering how you can go on. The Lord will bring you into that place –as Peter said, ‘Do not be surprised at the fiery trials which come upon you.’
That furnace is Egypt. It is a furnace of affliction that causes our faith to be refined and purified so that we associate ourselves with Him as one person. It is the place where we learn, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Bitterness, harshness, rigor. Life sure does suck at times! But if we decide to embrace the pressure whatever it is, whatever form it is taking, embrace it and say, “Your will be done Lord, Father, Your will be done not mine” then out of that furnace comes a new quality and strength to our faith. A new purity of faith.
God is preparing you. It is not about your temporal blessings but about His eternal age during Plan and your particular part in it.
So just say, Yes Lord! Yes Lord! Yes Lord to whatever suffering you are going through. Make me like pure gold-be glorified Jesus. Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
1Pe 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
1Pe 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
1Pe 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1Pe 1:9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
When all of Egypt falls apart it will be the sons of God that arise with healing in their wings. When Egypt is floundering about, her chariot wheels stuck in the mud, her banking system failing, it will be the children of God that arise to deliver and set free and point the way to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. But God must make ready a people for Himself –He is doing that don’t worry, He will complete it in you as you say Yes to Him.
Grace be with your spirit
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian. Exodus 2.15.
