Monday, January 11
Look! The people of Israel are more numerous and mightier than we are.
“Consequently, the Egyptians forced the Israelites into harsh slavery. They made their life bitter with hard labor, as they worked with clay mortar and bricks and in every form of slavery in the field.” Pharaoh even decreed that all Hebrew male babies should be put to death at their birth. It was at that time that Moses was born. When he was three months old, he was hidden by his mother in the reeds of the Nile, where Pharaoh’s daughter found him. She later adopted him. Providentially, during his early years, Moses was brought up by his faithful mother, Jochebed, and he became a loyal servant of Jehovah. Jehovah “took notice” of the sufferings of his people and decided to deliver them from their oppressors, under the leadership of Moses. They would thus become a people “redeemed” by Jehovah.
COMMENTARY
Before the Israelites became enslaved they were actually welcomed in Egypt. But as they grew in numbers they began to be perceived as a threat to the Egyptians’ national identity. Eventually, the situation became dire when Pharaoh attempted to wipe out the Hebrews by ordering the death of all newborn males.
Enter Moses, and his introduction at the burning bush to the one who said to him: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” Shortly thereafter Jehovah chose to assert his godship over the gods of Egypt by means of an awesome display of power known as the ten plagues. Ultimately, Jehovah chose to become the Savior of the Hebrews and a vast mixed company of others, when he parted the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh and his army of charioteers.
The parallel is there for us. Jehovah’s Witnesses have become a rather large multitude, numbering approximately 8 million worldwide. For the most part Jehovah’s Witnesses have been welcomed in the world, at least in the so-called Western civilization dominated by Christendom. Jehovah’s Witnesses have especially found a welcome home in America —the modern Egypt of prophecy. Prophecies in both Isaiah and Ezekiel make that connection.
But that is all about to change. It is about to change because “Egypt” is going to collapse very soon. From its ashes will arise a tyrannical regime that will be hostile to Jehovah and anyone who dares to speak his Name.
But instead of speaking from a burning bush, Jehovah will manifest himself by means of his Christ, who will ultimately come alongside the chosen ones. Call it the last Passover.
Another interesting parallel exists in the fact that the Israelites were originally reluctant to believe that Moses spoke for God. In the same way Jehovah’s Witnesses have been in a state of utter stupefaction for so long regarding Jesus supposedly having already come in 1914, they will at first find the parousia difficult to process.
But during that bleak period the two witnesses will appear —one of which was symbolized as Moses, who not coincidently also appeared in the vision of the Transfiguration. Then, the plagues of Revelation will be poured out by the angels. And then through Christ, Jehovah will become the grand Savior of a great crowd who will be protected when the nations are shattered at the place called Armageddon.
