How did the nation of Israel go from being favored by the Egyptian leadership to suffering so much persecution and prejudice that they would end up enslaved by a nation that once welcomed them? What does it say to us as Christians in our nation today? Why has Christianity and its moral truths come under so much attack? And how should we respond when we are mistreated because of our faith and moral stand?

Also …

What if you were arrested for being a Christian? Would the evidence be for you or against you? Why is this so important to our assurance of salvation?

And what do we need to examine if our lives seem shaky? What does God say will cause us to stand, even in troubled times?

Welcome to Soul Survival where I blog through the Bible in a Year along with Bible studies and other Christian living posts. This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each Bible in a Year post. And … this year I’m also reading through the Bible on YouTube. You can check out my channel here. The daily emails now have a link to both the Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. I hope you’ll sign up.

Today’s Readings:

Exodus 1 & 2
Psalm 15.1-5
Proverbs 4.25-27
Matthew 17.1-27

Persecution & Prejudice

Exodus 1 & 2:

Abraham, Joseph … now Moses

Now we begin another adventure into the Word of God, the book of Exodus!

God is getting ready to raise up Moses and remember:

… whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15.4).

When we studied the life of Abraham, the Father of Faith, it helped us know and trust in the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. The Scripture says Abraham:

Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be’ (Rom. 4.18).

In Joseph, we saw a picture or shadow, of Christ, the Son who was willing to lay down his life for His brothers and to forgive though they caused His suffering.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5.8).

Now, through the life of Moses, we’ll begin to see more of God’s character. This time as our Deliverer—the One who sees our bondage, hears our cries, and “in the fullness of time,” His perfect timing, He delivers us. We’ll talk more about this in the days to come.

One Source of Religious Persecution & Prejudice

But today let’s take a closer look at chapter 1.8-10:

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; 10 come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”

How did the nation of Israel go from being favored by the Egyptian leadership to suffering persecution and prejudice?

Verse 8 says a new king arose who did not know Joseph. One commentator said,

This didn’t mean he’d never heard of Joseph, the national hero; it means he refused to acknowledge Egypt’s debt of gratitude to Joseph, and, by extension, he refused to see the Israelites (Joseph’s people) as a blessing to the land.

All loyalties were forgotten, and the Israelites were suddenly in danger in the only homeland they had ever known because, as we’ll see, it had been almost 400 years since Jacob’s family came to Egypt.

As the king of Egypt, Pharaoh should have been the one to provide peace, protection, and provision for the people of the land. But this Pharaoh grew fearful of them and then angry. He turned on the Israelites and incited the Egyptians against them with his propaganda (vv. 9-10).

Notice the root of the prejudice was fear which turned to anger. Once fearful thoughts were seeded, the people were easily incited to go along with Pharaoh’s mistreatment of the Israelites.

Religious Persecution & Prejudice in Our Nation

Let’s look at the changes in attitudes toward Christianity in our nation.

As a nation, we like to call ourselves tolerant. In fact, being called “intolerant” is one of the worst things that can be said about someone today. But it seems, as a nation, we’re willing to tolerate almost anything, but biblical Christianity.

We’ve all seen what happens when Christians, even respectfully, refuse to participate in programs or ceremonies that contradict God’s commands and principles. Whether it’s a baker, a photographer, a Catholic hospital, a restaurant, or a craft store, the attacks are often angry and mean-spirited.

Like the new king who didn’t know Joseph, many of those in power refuse to acknowledge the contribution of those who made this nation what it is. Instead, history is often simply rewritten or twisted to fit their agenda.

No Appreciation

Appreciation for the values and religious convictions of our founders has been replaced by fear and anger. As a nation, we have dismissed our Christian heritage. We have forgotten the part that generosity, commitment to religious freedom, and adherence to Judaeo-Christian values have played in the blessings our nation has enjoyed. 

Instead, they demand the right to live any way they please without criticism or consequence and express anger toward anyone who disagrees.

But as believers, we need to be careful not to respond with our own anger, bitterness, disrespect, or cynicism. 1 Peter 2 says:

¹³ Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— ¹⁶ as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Yet, there are limits, not on doing good, but on our obedience to those in authority.

Fear God Not Man

When it comes to God’s commands and principles, we must be willing to fear and obey God and not man.

¹⁸ So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4.18-20).

But that also means we must be willing, as the apostles were, to accept the consequences of our civil disobedience.

Neither should we be shocked by any mistreatment. Just as Jesus warned us, Christians have been persecuted to one degree or another throughout history (Matt. 10.16-26).

²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! ²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known (Matt. 10.24-26).

They reject us because they reject Him and His authority in their lives.

Salt, Light & Prayer

I don’t know if God will give our nation a reprieve from the judgment we surely deserve for that rejection, but I do know that as His people, we are called to be salt and light to those around us (Matt. 5.13-16). We are called to see even our enemies as people in need of our Savior.

We are called to pray for our nation and our leaders on both sides of the aisle and of every political persuasion:

¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

May we hold fast to what is true and pleasing to God and may we be faithful to pray for those who, whether out of fear, anger, or ignorance oppose us.

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 15.1-5:

What Would the Evidence Say?

In verse 1 the Psalmist David, posed the question, “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?” We might say it this way, “Who is a true believer?” He answered by laying out a number of characteristics that should become evident in a believer’s life. Jesus put it like this, “You will know a tree by its fruit” (Matt. 12.33).

David goes on:

This behavior or fruit doesn’t save us but it is the evidence of a changed life. And we should all examine our own lives for that evidence.

Good Questions to Ask

Do I walk uprightly? Does my life look different from that of unbelievers? If I were arrested for being a believer and tried in a court of law, would there be any evidence against me, besides the fact that I go to church? And is that evidence mounting?

Do I speak the truth? Or am I deceitful? Do I tell “little white lies” or conveniently omit key facts?

Do I backbite or am I a true friend, employee, or church member? Am I loyal and trustworthy?

Do I do evil? Is anything I’m doing … watching … thinking … clearly evil?

Do I take up a reproach, criticize or bring disgrace to others, such as friends, family members, or fellow believers?

Do I despise a vile person? For example, do I agree with God about homosexuality and abortion? While we are to show the love of Christ to those involved in these things, we must be willing to speak the truth in love.

Do I honor those who fear the Lord? Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ? Someone said, “If you don’t want to spend time with Christians here on earth, it’s unlikely you’ll spend eternity with them.” And Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13.35).

Do I swear to my own hurt and not change? Do I keep my word or do I live my life based on how I feel at the moment?

Am I greedy? Am I out for “usury” by doing what will gain me the most benefit?

What characterizes my life?

The Result

David said that when we walk uprightly, we will not be moved. The NASB says, “will never be shaken.” The NLT says, “Such people will stand firm forever.” If we feel like things in our lives are shaky, maybe we need to examine our lives and see if we are living in a way God says will stand.

But as we study these qualities, we must remember that the only way we can walk uprightly, consistently, and with the right motives, is to rely on Christ who is our righteousness. Also, remember that we won’t be perfect in this life, but if we are believers, we should be growing in these and other areas (Eph. 4.14-16).

Proverbs 4.25-27:

Ponder the Path of Your Feet

Solomon echoed the psalmist’s thoughts when he said:

Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established (v. 26).

Matthew 17.1-27:

He Signed Up for It

Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful (vv. 22-23).

Jesus knew exactly what He had signed up to do. He knew He would be betrayed. He knew just how He would suffer and die. Not only did He understand that in a general sense, but as He washed Judas’ feet, He knew that Judas would betray Him, and … He knew that each of us would betray and sin against Him, and He willingly died in our place anyway!

So We Won’t Suffer Loss

I pray that this commitment to read God’s Word is a blessing. Even though at times, it may bring conviction, it is always for our good. Paul said:

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us (2 Cor. 7.9).

Lord, help us to be good repenters, to allow Your Word to penetrate our hearts and impact our lives for our good and for Your glory, in Jesus name. Amen.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about parenting, sleeping with frogs, and what to do when you try trusting God and things get worse.

I hope you’ll join me and, if you haven’t already,  take the challenge to read through the Bible with me this year. Even though we may do it imperfectly or miss a day here and there, I find when we set it as a goal, we read far more of God’s Word than we would otherwise. I know we all get far too much email these days but having the daily devotion pop up in your inbox each day can serve as a general reminder to get into God’s Word. It goes out at 6 a.m. MST.

You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, and now listen on YouTube. Just click on the social media icons or go to my YouTube channel. 

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Prayer Helps

Do you ever struggle with prayer? Do you sometimes feel it’s just one more thing on your to-do list or that you don’t measure up in this area? Me, too, but these are some of the strategies that I’ve learned through the years that have helped me have a more consistent and meaningful prayer life.

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.