God Came Down

The biblical account of Israel's redemption from Egypt and their expedition to Canaan is a portrait of our redemption and was written to help us in our journey to victorious Christian living (1 Cor 10:11).

Their helpless condition

After arriving in Egypt Jacob's family multiplied and lived peacefully until the time Joseph died. Then a new Pharaoh "arose" - most likely through conquest (Ex 1:8).

To Israel's dismay this new ruler viewed them with distrust (Ex 1:10) and placed them under cruel bondage for many years (Ex 1:11-14). Feeling helpless they cried out to God (Ex 2:23).

Similarly all humanity is helpless in their bondage to sin (Rom 5:6). Like slaves we are taken captive by the devil (2 Tim 2:26), sold under sin (Rom 7:14), and influenced by the world (Eph 2:2).

Prone to idolatry (1Cor 12:2) we are guilty before the law (Rom 3:19; Gal 4:4-5), cursed (Gal 3:10) and condemned (John 3:18).

In answer to Israel's helpless state the Lord came down (Ex. 3:8).

God came down

God remembered Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex 2:24-25), and acknowledged His people (Ex 2:24-25) fulfilling Joseph's prophetic word that God would visit them (Gen 50:24-25). Here the word "acknowledge" literally means "God knows." God understood their plight and had come down to deliver them.

Hearing this comforted Israel's elders and they believed (Ex 4:29-31).

Likewise God remembered His eternal promise to rescue humanity (Tit 1:2, Gen 3:15). Knowing our need He sent word through the prophets that He would release us through the Lord Jesus Christ (Isa 42:1).

It was at just the right time God sent Moses and it was in the fullness of time God sent His Son (Gal 4:4).

In the fullness of time

In His sovereignty God has made every nation and determined their time and place in history (Acts 17:26).

Many years earlier it was prophesied that Israel would leave Egypt (Gen 15:13-16, Ex 12:40, Acts 7:6, Gal 3:15-17) and it was at just the right moment that Israel acknowledged their hopelessness.

It was at the same time the Canaanite nations' wickedness reached its completion and God was ready to judge them (Gen 15:16).

Jehovah's appointed time had arrived to redeem Israel in power and by blood so that they could serve Him.

Likewise the Lord Jesus came down (Phil 2:5-8) and was crucified at the time and place that God chose according to His perfect word (Ps. 22, Dan 9:24-26, Isa. 53, Micah 5:1-2, Luke 1:30-35, Matt. 27:35).

Displaying God's power Christ shed His blood to purchase humanity and call out a bride for His own.

His Power

God's ten plagues were specifically directed against the Egyptian gods (Numb 33:4).

For example, by turning the Nile River into blood the Lord exposed their Nile god as a fraud.

As well their sun god was revealed an impostor when for three days God brought total darkness to Egypt.

And despite being considered divine by his people, Pharaoh was not spared when the last judgment killed all Egyptian firstborn.

Displaying His sovereignty, power and glory the Lord humbled a powerful nation and shook their whole belief system to its very core.

These and the other judgments served notice to Egypt and the world that Jehovah had defeated Pharaoh, overcome Egypt and set Israel free.

Having looted their enemy (Ex. 12:35-36) the Israelites left Egypt like a victorious army (Ex. 13:18)

Similarly history witnessed an even greater display of God's power at the cross. Having paid the penalty for sin Christ defeated the devil (Col 2:15, Heb 2:14-15) fulfilled the law's demand (Col 2:14) and overcame the world (John 16:33). Completing this work He shouted the word that both thrills and touches our hearts – "finished."

Dismissing His spirit He set in motion a series of miraculous signs that were the finger of God (Ex. 8:19, Matt. 27:51-53).

Then on the third day Christ mightily rose from the dead (Rom. 6:4).

This same power freed us from sin's bondage and is now available for victorious living (Rom 6:4, 6:11-14, 8:15, Gal 2:20, 5:16).

In Christ we are no longer the devil's captive (Eph 4:27, 6:11, 2 Tim 2:26, Heb 2:14, James 4:7, 1 John 3:8, 4:4), in Christ we can overcome the world (John 16:33, 1 John 5:4-5), in Christ the law can lay no charge (Col 2:14) and in Christ death has no claim on us (Heb 2:15).

We've been set free to worship and serve God.

This serves notice to a dying world that they too can forsake their gods and find freedom in Christ.

George Ferrier

Counsel Magazine 2010