It’s interesting that the number of Jacob’s family who went down to Egypt were seventy(or seventy two) Gen 46:27. In Luke 10:1 Jesus sent out seventy(or seventy two) others to go out and preach the kingdom. Was God establishing a ‘beachhead’ on both occasions;
A defended position on a beach taken from the enemy by landing forces, from which an attack can be launched.
God knew the final outcome of Jacob’s family going down to Egypt would be enslavement of His people, followed by a huge power encounter with the king and the gods of Egypt. God ‘brought out His divisions’ with all the wealth of Egypt, killed the Pharaoh who’d ill treated them and destroyed their entire army. God’s people were finally on the move to their inheritance in the land of Canaan, where the Temple of the Lord would be built and the worship of the one true God established.
In Luke 10 Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs to ‘heal the sick and tell them the Kingdom of God is near you’. (70 is a ‘Kingdom number’, Kingdom of God is mentioned 70 times in the Bible and God is also identified as King 70 times. The 70th verse, Genesis 3:14, God’s curse on the serpent after the Fall – with thanks to Troy Brewer on YouTube).
Jesus sent out the seventy to bring or release the Kingdom in a greater measure. It also foreshadowed the coming Church that would carry the Gospel message to all people.
He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest field’. Luke 10:2 Was Jesus aware of the size of the need of the people, but also the coming of God’s Kingdom in power?
He told them, ‘Do not take a purse or bag or sandals’ Luke 9:3 , 10:4. They were to go out ‘God dependant’, trusting completely that He would meet their needs.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure “. Look 10:21
Jesus and the Holy Spirit were both ‘full of joy’ and expressing it to the Father, (full Godhead in one verse), at the launching out of the seventy in a new, powerful ministry on the earth. God wants to establish His Kingdom on earth and that’s His ultimate goal.
We have seen in earlier blogs how God’s people were mistreated by Pharaoh in Egypt before God Himself intervened for them. Initially their situation got worse and Pharaoh tried to stop them listening to God and His servant Moses, but was no match for the God of Israel.
Like D Day in World War 2, God has formed His beachhead and His Church has landed on earth. There may still be hard fighting ahead, but Jesus won our victory at Calvary. The bridegroom is coming, no matter what obstacles the enemy wants to put in the way. God is with us as He was with Israel in Egypt and the early Church in the days of Rome.
But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13
God bless and keep you today.