When New Kings Arise

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When New Kings Arise

Ex 1:1-14

The Book of Exodus is a story of deliverance. However, before deliverance, it was a story of oppression.

In a place where it’s supposed to be safe, where once the first generation of Jacob’s seed found shelter from famine in Canaan, there arose up a new king. Then suddenly, everything is different. Their friends became their enemies, their benefactors became their oppressors, and their freedom was taken away from them. They were now slaved in a foreign land. A land that their ancestor Joseph has saved from a seven year famine. A land that now becomes their prison. A land with a new king that knew not Joseph. Neither did this new king know the God of Joseph.

Furthermore, it was on account of Israel’s population explosion that this new Pharaoh oppresses them. He was afraid that Israel might wax stronger than the Egyptians. Yes, kings are just men. Frail, fearful, and forgetful. However, God is strong and mighty, and He doesn’t forget any of His promises.

The Hebrew title for the second book of the Pentateuch is taken from its first two words in the Hebrew manuscripts - “elleh” and “shemowth” which means “These the Names”. If anything, these first two words conveys the idea that the Israelites has preserved their genealogy. Along with that is their heritage as the seeds of Israel. Moreover, with that heritage is the knowledge of all that God has promised to their people.

Somehow, this knowledge became an anchor in which Israel preserved their national identity for the 430 years of their existence in Egypt. Somehow, this knowledge gave them the hope of waiting for the fulfillment of the promise they received from their first ancestors. Even when the first generation of the Israelites had passed away, the succeeding ones are kept intact and alive through the words of their forefathers. Even when there was no mention of a prophet’s voice or of a strong and godly leader’s influence.

This is the ironic part in this biblical account. This was that the more this new king afflicted the people of God, the more they grew and multiply. Pharaoh’s weapon of choice is slavery and genocide. Nevertheless, on Israel’s arsenal is the heritage of trust in God’s promises. The result is a product of faith and fortitude. The fangs of the new king are not sharp enough to penetrate Israel’s national vein. The nation’s blood is still flowing. Their heart is still pounding. In the middle of suffering, life is still flourishing.

This is the kind of life that most of God’s people have lived in their lifetime. This is us when new kings arise to make the Christian life more miserable. This is us when new kings arise to enslave our human spirit. And this is us when new kings arise to make us forget that we are the chosen ones of God.

But the Apostolic heritage stands on the same foundation that Israel’s heritage stood on. We have the same word of promise, and we have the same Promise Giver. He is the Author of our redemption, and He has written it with His mighty hand. His deliverance is still sweet and strong whether in Exodus or in Revelation.

Time will make the new king old. Eternity has no place for his kingdom. The bottomless pit is prepared to bind him with chains. As for us, let us be prepared for the coming of our Deliverer, the Eternal King of Kings.

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