Being Pressed Down Builds Character for Jesus’ Followers

This morning our family started reading the Book of Exodus. I’m excited for us to recall the amazing story of God’s rescuing Israel from slavery in Egypt. What a wonderful picture of the sovereign work of God on behalf of sinners. God’s faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is carried forward to a people who, if we’re honest, does not necessarily “deserve” to be rescued (if you read through Exodus, you’ll understand why I say that).

In chapter one, we find that “the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them” (v.7). I wonder if this is the author’s way of demonstrating that the commission given to the Patriarchs to be fruitful and multiply was continuing to take place (cf. Gen. 1:28; 9:1, 6-7; 12:2-3; 17:2, 6, 8; 22:17-18; 26:3-4, 24; 28:3-4; 35:11-12; 47:27; also see G. K. Beale’s JETS article, “Eden, The Temple, and the Church’s Mission in the New Creation”).

At any rate, Israel’s numbers was increasing, and when a new king (Pharaoh) arose over Egypt, he did not find this comforting. In fact, his worry was that the growing number of Israelites would join the forces of Egypt’s enemies in the event that war broke out (Ex. 1:8-10). Pharaoh’s solution?

“Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land” (v.10).

Egypt’s new position towards Israel caused them to “set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens” (v.11). Thus, slavery begins and the plight of God’s people starts. This is a great way to start a book, by the way. We’re set looking for a plot resolution from the moment we start reading!

Interestingly, Egypt’s plan to keep Israel down backfires. We read,

“But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel” (v.12).

Evidently the oppression actually brings about the opposite effects. Sorry, Mr. Pharaoh, your persecution of God’s people, with the aims of afflicting them in order to keep them in check does not work!

They… just… keep… growing!

This reminds me of what we read in the New Testament. Persecutions, trials, and suffering produces positive characteristics in the lives of God’s people. 

James writes,

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).

Peter writes,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Pet. 4:12-14).

Paul writes,

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).

There are positives to living in a fallen world. Though there are trials, persecutions, and sufferings, for followers of Jesus, those negatives have positive affects. They are God’s way of refining us. Our apostolic witness is that our character is refined, we share in Christ’s sufferings (cf. Phil. 3:10), and we are being prepared for and given a greater expectation for future glory.

When Joseph confronted the brothers who had sold him into slavery, he said to them,  “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). This is a great picture of God’s providential hand.

And like Israel before us, when God’s people are persecuted or suffer, we can look to the Lord and trust that he will both sustain us and help us through it. John Bunyan wrote,

“This, therefore, is a rare consideration for those to let their hearts be acquainted with that suffer according to the will of God, and that have committed the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing. They have a Creator to maintain and uphold their cause, a Creator to oppose its opposers. And hence it is said, all that burden themselves with Jerusalem “shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zech 12:3).” ( Seasonable Counsel, or, Advice to Sufferers)

Amen.