[Leader] “Tell me, whose side are you standing on?”
[All] “I’m standing on the Lord’s side.”
[Leader] “Whose side are you standing on?”
[All] “Standing on the Lord’s side.
I stand, I stand, I stand–
standing on the Lord’s side.
I stand, I stand, I stand, I stand–
standing on the Lord’s side.”
The words of an old chorus/hymn came to mind today as I read the ongoing story of Israel in Exodus 1.
TIMES had changed in the land of Egypt, where Israel had been exiled by the Lord, during the seven years of famine. Times are also changing in the world today and we need to be determined to ‘stand on the Lord’s side’, the winning side!
6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:6, 7
God began to develop the nation of Israel, His own people, but they became too numerous for the Egyptians and were ruthlessly oppressed by them. They had been a favoured people under Joseph and that Pharaoh, but the new Egyptian king turned against them. Despite their harsh life under the new regime God’s people continued to increase and Pharaoh decided to murder all the male babies.
In the middle of the story of the growth of a nation, two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are recorded by name. They were told to murder all the boys at the point of birth.
The midwives, however, FEARED GOD and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Exodus 1:17
We shouldn’t read this and think that these two women didn’t fear Pharaoh, who could have had them removed in an instant, but they did Fear God! In our present age many unborn children have been removed without any Fear of God, a very sad fact and no small matter in God’s eyes.
Pharaoh called them to ask why they hadn’t obeyed his orders. They told him that Hebrew women gave birth too quickly, before they arrived. The building of a people was central to God’s purposes for the salvation of mankind, He could not have allowed that to be prevented, though the enemy didn’t give up easily.
20 So God was kind to the midwives and THE PEOPLE INCREASED AND BECAME EVEN MORE NUMEROUS. 21 And because the midwives FEARED GOD, he gave them families of their own. Exodus 1:20, 21
God protected and blessed the midwives and His people. Their conditions were harsh but God blessed them and they thrived in their tough environment. There’s plenty of evidence in history that the Church can also grow rapidly under persecution. We on earth can be discouraged by tough conditions, BUT GOD! God is working out His plans for the return of the Lord and His coming Kingdom. He will have His way and we need to STAND ON HIS SIDE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION.
God bless and keep you today.