Trusting God in the Shaking, A Conflict of Powers
Exodus 8 & Genesis 26
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12–13
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12–13
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:9–10
These are the same forces that Moses faced in Egypt. These false gods and world rulers are the World SYSTEM opposed to the Rule of God and the Freedom of God’s Children.
There are those trying to divide us. We are wrestling against the demonic spirits that work through government, the financial system (corporations, e.g.), education, media and communications (news), entertainment, drugs and pornography (sexualization of youth, abuse and trafficking.)
These are the same forces that Moses faced in Egypt. These false gods and world rulers are the World SYSTEM opposed to the Rule of God and the Freedom of God’s Children.
We are in a battle against Spiritual Hosts of Wickedness that manifest through worldly powers: Government, Financial Systems, Politics, Communication Systems, and Religion.
God is judging the world’s systems but has set apart a place of refuge for the people of God.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs.
The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls.
The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.” ’ ” Exodus 8:1–4
Exodus 8: 16-24
What does Goshen mean? “Drawing Near”
While God is judging the world’s systems, he has set apart a place of refuge for the people of God.
He has provision in the midst of the shaking.
How Did God Judge Egypt:
Religiously: the gods of Egypt and the magicians were no match for Yahweh
Governmentally and Politically: Pharaoh was impotent before God’s sovereign will.
Militarily: Horse and Rider were Thrown into the sea.
Economically: They stripped the Egyptians of their gold and silver.
Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. Gen 26:1
And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.
He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.
(Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.)
And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” Genesis 26:12–16
When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,
that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” Genesis 26:26–29