Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather with you today, to share in the fellowship of believers, and to immerse ourselves in the life-giving truth of God's Word. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. We are here because our God, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, has ordained this moment for us to meet Him in the sacred pages of Scripture.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Acts, specifically chapter 7, verses 17-35. In this passage, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound narrative, a narrative that speaks of bondage, bitterness, and the birth of a deliverer. It is a narrative that echoes through the corridors of time, finding its resonance in our own lives, in our own struggles, and in our own need for a Deliverer.

The revered Christian author, Charles Spurgeon, once said, "The Word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it." And so, let's live upon it today. Let's allow it to nourish our souls, to challenge our perspectives, and to shape our understanding of who God is and who we are in Him.

Let's read the passage together:

"But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph [nor his history and services]. This king shrewdly exploited and oppressed our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants so that they might not be kept alive. At this [critical] time Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God. He was nurtured three months in his father’s house. When he was set outside [to die], Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. So Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty (powerful) in his speech and deeds. But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one [of them] being treated unjustly, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking and killing the Egyptian. He expected his countrymen to understand that God was granting them freedom through him [assuming that they would accept him], but they did not understand." (Acts 7:17-35)

Bondage Begins

As we turn our hearts and minds to the Scripture, we find ourselves in the land of Egypt, a land that was once a place of refuge and provision for the people of Israel. But now, it has become a place of oppression and suffering. The new Pharaoh, who had no knowledge or appreciation of Joseph and his contributions, saw the Israelites not as allies but as threats. He feared their increasing numbers and their potential to align with Egypt's enemies. So, he made a calculated decision to exploit and oppress them.

This was not a sudden change. It was a gradual shift from being welcomed guests to becoming enslaved laborers. The Israelites found themselves in a situation where their freedom was stripped away, their dignity was trampled upon, and their lives were reduced to mere tools for the Egyptian empire. They were in bondage, not by their own choice, but by the cruel hand of Pharaoh.

This bondage was not just physical. It was also emotional and spiritual. The Israelites were not just building cities for Pharaoh; they were also building walls around their hearts. Walls of fear, walls of despair, walls of bitterness. They were trapped in a cycle of hopelessness and helplessness. They cried out in their suffering, yearning for deliverance, yearning for a savior.

The first aspect of this bondage that we need to understand is its origin. It didn't start with the Israelites; it started with Pharaoh. It was his fear and insecurity that led him to oppress the Israelites. He was the one who initiated this cycle of bondage. He was the one who turned the land of refuge into a land of oppression. This teaches us a profound truth: bondage often begins not with the oppressed but with the oppressor.

The second aspect of this bondage is its impact. The Israelites were not just physically oppressed; they were also emotionally and spiritually oppressed. They were stripped of their freedom, their dignity, their hope. They were reduced to mere tools for the Egyptian empire. This teaches us another profound truth: bondage is not just about physical oppression; it's also about emotional and spiritual oppression.

The third aspect of this bondage is its persistence. The Israelites were in bondage for a long time. It wasn't a temporary situation; it was a prolonged period of suffering and despair. They cried out in their suffering, yearning for deliverance, yearning for a savior. This teaches us yet another profound truth: bondage is not just a momentary experience; it's a persistent reality.

The fourth aspect of this bondage is its purpose. The bondage of the Israelites was not without purpose. It was a part of God's sovereign plan. It was a part of His grand narrative of redemption. The Israelites' bondage was a precursor to their deliverance. Their suffering was a precursor to their salvation. This teaches us the most profound truth of all: bondage is not the end of the story; it's the beginning of a greater story.

Bitterness of Enslavement

As we continue to immerse ourselves in this passage, we find ourselves in the midst of the Israelites' bitter experience in Egypt ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO