War in the Un-Seen

The Battle begins

What if the biggest battle in the Bible isn’t between nations or people but gods? “Not gods equal to God—but what Scripture describes as powers and principalities under His authority.”

Recap:

Pharaoh dreamed a dream he could not interpret. Joseph was called forth and interpreted the dream to Pharaoh and was exalted to prime minister of Egypt. The dream was 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine, thus Joseph stewarded in such a way to store provisions during the years of plenty to provide during the years of famine.

Text: Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Exodus 1:6–14 “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.”

Point : What once was a blessing turned into bondage!

The gods are threatened :

Vs 7-9 The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

Remember: God disperses the nations Genesis 11:9 “Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

Deut. 32:8-9 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the LORD’s portion is his people Jacob his allotted heritage.

Living in Enemy territory

Exodus 1:10–14 “Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.”

Powers and Principalities

Here we see the oppression from the Egyptian government which appears to be directly influenced by the lesser gods, ( powers and principalities in high places Eph.6:12) .

While the text shows Pharaoh’s fear, Scripture reveals that earthly conflicts often reflect deeper spiritual realities as they exercise : Political, economic, and religious authority

The descendants of Abraham are now behind enemy lines and suffering oppressions from the unjust gods who were assigned over Egypt. They govern unjustly through the hands of the Egyptian Pharaoh and taskmasters.

Here we see the un-just gods called to account

Psalm 82:1–8 “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, And accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: For thou shalt inherit all nations.”

God hears the cry of His people

Exodus 2:23–25 “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.”

The covenant God made with Abraham is still being carried forward but how ?

Enter Moses ; just like Joseph was a type or picture of Christ so is Moses as a Deliverer.

But before God delivers His people He has to confront what holds them captive thus He dismantles, exposes, and overthrows them one god at a time.

A Word of encouragement

Colossians 2:15 “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

The ultimate overcoming of powers and principalities thrones or dominions took place on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”