Egypt - What will define YOU?
Message by: Loni Briner
Egypt… We should probably take a little time to learn more about this important nation… It is the most mentioned country in the Bible. The Bible tells us about the foundations of Israel, but Egypt was an important part of that foundation and is mentioned more than any other nation…
In Egypt today, Christian parents have the Coptic Cross tattooed on their children’s wrist in the case that they are kidnapped. This is a real issue they face, and they want their children to know and remember their Christian faith - with a constant reminder permanently inked on their wrists.
What is the first thing that pops into your head when you think of “Egypt” in the Bible?
Because of one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, the Exodus, and all of the cute and catchy songs that outline it, Egypt tends to get a bad reputation.
How often do we look at our own lives, knowing all of the times we messed up, do we give ourselves a bad reputation?
How often do we look back and wish we hadn’t done something or said something. Worse – how often do we let that regret define us – even if it is just to ourselves.
I have good news for you.
Even though Egypt did was the home of a terrible work and fate, it is not completely defined by that big mess-up.
No matter how big YOU’VE messed up, God has more for your story, and He is ready to restore.
So, Egypt first shows up with its origin story... which is actually Noah’s grandson, who was named Egypt - the son of Ham.
We then hear more about the nation of Egypt in the story of Abram and Sarai…
Genesis 12:10-20
[10] Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. [11] As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. [12] When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. [13] Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
[14] When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. [15] And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. [16] He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
[17] But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. [18] So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? [19] Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” [20] Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
This happens between the time of God’s promise to Abram and before His covenant. In fact, as part of God’s covenant to Abram, He says:
Genesis 15:18
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—"…
Abram is not done weaving his life with the nation Egypt… Remember when he was super old and God promised him a son? Remember when his wife impatiently and foolishly gave him her servant Hagar? Well, knowing where they had lived for some time, you might not be surprised to know where Hagar hailed from… You got it, Egypt. So, you will also not be surprised to know where Hagar wanted her son, Ismael’s wife to come from…
Genesis 21:20-21
[20] God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. [21] While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his [Ishmael’s] mother got a wife for him from Egypt.
Genesis 25:17-19
[17] Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. [18] His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.
In life, we need to recognize that sometimes God is calling us into places, and sometimes He is calling us to stay out of places.
Genesis 26:1-5
[1] Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. [2] The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. [3] Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. [4] I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,[5] because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” [6] So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
When the Holy Spirit is telling us to pump the brakes, we need to. God will bless us when we do.
The next time we hear about Egypt. It is the story of Joseph… Talk about family drama!
Abram (or Abraham) had his promised son, Isaac.
Isaac had twins – Jacob and Esau.
Jacob tricked his father (Isaac) into giving him Esau’s blessing (even though Esau was the born, rightful heir). Out of fear of retaliation from his brother, Esau, Jacob flees from home.
While he is away from home, Jacob falls madly in love with Rachel. He works seven years to earn Rachel’s hand in marriage. Apparently, he says, “I do,” but didn’t know the wife under the veil was Rachel’s older sister, Leah. He then has to work seven more years to earn his one true love, Rachel.
Rachel has a hard time conceiving children, but Leah is popping out boys left and right. FINALLY, Rachel bears her first son, Joseph. Needless to say, Joseph is Jacob’s favorite – which results in Joseph and his infamous coat.
In all, Jacob had 12 sons – which are the tribes of Israel.
Leah’s boys are super jealous of Joseph, and his sweet coat, so they steal his coat, cover it in blood and convince Jacob that wild animals killed his favorite son. In reality, they sold him.
Genesis 37:28
So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
Genesis 39:1-2
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
Genesis 39:5
From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
So, we see where God took something awful, but turned it for Joseph’s good. Hold up… Later in Genesis 39, we meet Potiphar’s wife. She has a mad crush on Joseph. When she tries to seduce Joseph, he is loyal to his boss and true to his values, and shuts her down… She lies and gets Joseph in prison.
Here, we see how the enemy used lust and embarrassment to put Joseph in prison… Which is exactly where God wanted him.
While in prison, Joseph is able to make connections that ultimately lead to him translating Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams… dreams that were prophetic and warning Pharaoh of a seven-year famine. Joseph impressed Pharaoh so much that he went from behind bars to second in command!
Genesis 41:41
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
When the seven-year famine is going on, God used Joseph to prepare the entire nation of Egypt to withstand it. Know how else would need Egypt for this time?
In Genesis 42, those jelly brothers of Joseph return. Joseph forgave them and the family (and ultimately, the 12 tribes of Israel) are saved!
Genesis 47:28
Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.
Exodus 1:6-14
[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.
[8] Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. [9] “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. [10] Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
[11] So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites [13] and worked them ruthlessly. [14] They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
Exodus 1:22
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
After this, a Levite woman saves her son by placing him in a basket and sending him down the Nile River where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter – who eagerly pulls him out to raise him.
Y’all – please tell me you are seeing how God’s hand is moving in the middle of distress and evil.
So, (In Exodus 2) Moses grows up, happens to see an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite slave, defends the slave, and flees Egypt. While he is hiding in the wilderness, God speaks to him. Literally – speaks to him through a burning bush.
It is here where God calls Moses to free His people.
In Exodus 4, Moses returns to Egypt to plea for freedom for the Israelites.
In Exodus 7-11, Pharaoh refuses to listen to God and his demands, and so come the plagues.
In Exodus 12, we observe the first Passover – which we often forget to recognize was in Egypt.
Having NOT been spared of the final plague:
Exodus 12:30-31
[30] Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
[31] During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.
After being freed, the Israelites were facing a defining moment. They failed miserably.
Exodus 16:3
They said, “It would have been better if the Lord had just killed us in the land of Egypt. At least there we had plenty to eat. We had all the food we needed. But now you have brought us out here into this desert to make us all die from hunger.”
Then, the Israelites struggled to break some of the bad habits they learned there.
In Exodus 32, they made a golden calf as an idol.
In Egypt, Apis was revered as a bull deity, symbolizing strength and fertility, which further complicates his identity across cultures.
When you are being tested or sitting in a time waiting, how will you be defined?
Let’s now flip to Isaiah 19. This chapter begins by cursing Egypt…
Isaiah 19:1-4
[1] See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
[2] “I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian—brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
[3] The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.
[4] I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
…by the end of the chapter, God vows to bless Egypt.
Isaiah 19:19-24
[19] In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border. [20] It will be a sign and witness to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. [21] So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them. [22] The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
[23] In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. [24] In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. [25] The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”
We are seeing this in Egypt today - after the work of Jesus’ disciple - Mark!
Egypt becomes a pretty big (and important) player as we fast forward about 1,400 years after the Exodus… Here is where we see Egypt as a blessing… she really redeems herself
Jesus Christ is born.
After the wisemen not so wisely tip off Herod about the new King they are seeking to bless, Herod wants this child, and possible threat to his throne, killed.
Matthew 2:16
Herod saw that the wise men had fooled him, and he was very angry. So he gave an order to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem and the whole area around Bethlehem. Herod had learned from the wise men the time the baby was born. It was now two years from that time. So he said to kill all the boys who were two years old and younger.
What Herod could not know is that God was already two steps ahead of them, and what Nation does He use to save the Savior of the world?
Matthew 2:13
After the wise men left, an angel from the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up! Take the child with his mother and escape to Egypt. Herod wants to kill the child and will soon start looking for him. Stay in Egypt until I tell you to come back.”
Egypt was once known as the country where they were killing the baby boys. Now, Egypt is the place where God is sending His one and only Son to be spared from the killing of baby boys.
How amazing is that?
God could have chosen so many other places, but He chose Egypt.
God is in the business of restoring things. Is He trying to restore you right now? Are you letting Him?
Alight, we are going to switch gears at little now…
What are some words you might use to describe Satan?
I have one that should totally empower you… Stupid.
Isaiah 14:12
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!
Ezekiel 28:12-17
[12] “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. [13] You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. [14] “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. [15] You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, ‘til iniquity was found in you. [16] “By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore, I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. [17] “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.”
So, Lucifer was an angel who dwelt with God. He was an arch-angel, elevated above other Heavenly hosts. He was the angel of light. But he had a real pride issue. He let that control him, and it still controls him to this day.
Ever wonder where the name, “Hell” comes from? Well, in Hebrew, the word/name Lucifer is actually:
הֵילֵ֣ל
hê·lêl
Definition: the morning star
Word Origin: from halal - to praise, to boast, to shine, to celebrate, to glory (in the sense of brightness)
For real. Satan is so stupid. His pride has completely blinded him from realizing that every time he knocks us down, he is just giving God an opportunity to show up and show off.
Satan thought he was hurting Joseph when he put hatred in his brothers’ hearts… enough hatred to sell him into slavery. Satan also thought he was hurting Joseph when he put lust in Potiphar’s wife’s heart that landed him in prison. But, without these acts of evil, Joseph never becomes the second in command of Egypt which means he never would have had the chance to save that nation from the famine, and ultimately his own family and bloodline.
Satan thought he was hurting God’s chosen people when he put fear in Pharaohs heart which led to the order of murdering the young boys. If that hadn’t happened, Moses would not have been sent down the Nile River in a basket to grow up with the Pharaoh’s family – a position that gave him the ability to be able to approach Pharaoh and demand that he let God’s people go!
Satan thought he was killing the Son of God when he put jealousy indignation in the hearts of the pharisees. Again, his pride consumed him so badly, he couldn’t comprehend that he was orchestrating the scriptures to be fulfilled. It was Satan’s work of turning people away from Jesus between Palm Sunday and Good Friday that made the Resurrection possible. He thought he had won… but he was really just stupid, and how glad can we be that he is.
So… now that you know that the enemy does not hold a candle to the flames that God put inside you… How will you choose to be remembered?
Do you want to be remembered like the Egypt that refused to listen to God? The nation that bitterly refused God’s requests and heed His warnings? Or do you want to be remembered as the Egypt that sheltered the Son of God and kept Him safe when powers were looking to destroy the Savior of the world before He could finish His work and mission?
God created us in His image. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and embrace the Holy Spirit living inside and through us, the enemy has no power or dominion over us, so we have the power to define ourselves.
