The chosen people were in Egypt partly as the result of the envy of Joseph's brethren, and partly because of famine in the land. It seemed to be an advantage to travel to Egypt. The spiritual parallel is the constant turning of the Church to the world for money, influence, and methods.

1. The permissive and the directive will of God
   • Genesis 26:2,3 -- "Go not down into Egypt"
   • Genesis 46:3,4 -- "Fear not to go down into Egypt"

   God's best is in His own directive will for us. Often, He permits His people to do things in other ways, only to find out through sufferings that His will was best. Other examples of God's permissive will include His assent to the sending of spies (Deuteronomy 1:21; Numbers 13:1-3) and the choice of Saul as king (1Samuel 8:7-9).

2. Egypt, a picture of the world, was no place for the people of God
   • Genesis 12:10 -- "Famine... Abram went down into Egypt." Egypt with her wealth in corn, is always a temptation (see Genesis 42:1,2; Exodus 16:2,3).
   • Exodus 1:7-14 -- "And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage." Egypt (the world) brings Israel into bondage.
3. Humanity is in bondage
   1. To sin
      • Romans 6:16 -- "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield"
      • John 8:34 -- "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave] of sin"
   2. To habit
      • Jeremiah 13:23 -- "Accustomed to do evil"
   3. To self
      • Romans 7:14 -- "Sold under sin." Here, sin stands for the old nature.
   4. To Satan
      • Revelation 13:4 -- "And they worshipped the dragon"
      • John 14:30 -- "The prince of this world cometh"
      • John 16:11 -- "The prince of this world is judged"
      • 2Corinthians 4:4 -- "Blinded the minds of them which believe not"
4. Deliverance from bondage is a divine work
   1. In type
      • Exodus 3:7,8 -- "I have surely seen the affliction... I am come down to deliver"
      • Exodus 13:18 -- "God led the people"
      • Exodus 19:4 -- "I bare you on eagle's wings"
   2. In fulfillment
      • Isaiah 61:1 -- "Liberty to the captives"
      • Luke 4:16-24 -- "Set at liberty... this day... fulfilled"

Moments With the Book
P.O. Box 322
Bedford, PA 15522 USA
Order online at: www.mwtb.org