“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.” Exo 1:6-14
Exodus 6:1; 1:6-11 : The spirit of Pharaoh is, in one way or another, evident in almost every life. In fact every man is born into the domain of a Pharaoh, the enclave of Egypt. We will examine the various manifestations of this spirit and see the way God has vowed to terminate its regime in our lives.
I. Loss of rights and privileges Ex. 6:8
When Joseph died in Egypt a new king (pharaoh) arose who didn’t know him or remember all the good things he did to sustain and preserve Egypt. The new pharaoh suddenly stopped all the rights and privileges the children of Israel had been enjoying in Egypt. He took away their freedom; he stagnated their economy, and put their future in jeopardy.
When you suddenly lose your job, your marriage, when your freedom is taken from you without your fault, when your past good deed is not remembered, but instead men are repaying you with evil it is likely that the spirit of pharaoh is at work.
II. Discrimination Ex.1:9-14
Pharaoh began a subtle campaign of discrimination against the children of Israel. Egypt began to envy Israel. The jobs that the Egyptians would not do were forced on the Israelites. When anyone has to deal with you because of your race or your status or your class, such is manifesting the spirit Pharaoh. When your appointment is terminated, or somebody else is placed above you just because of your color, tone of voice, then the spirit of Pharaoh is at work.
III. Relentless enemies or Stubborn pursuers Ex. 15:9
Some men have been pursued from the womb. Their enemies are relentless and it doesn’t matter even if they relocate from one country to another, their problems are never over. Pharaoh and his hosts pursued the children of Israel even in the face of many undeniable evidences of God’s signs and wonders in Egypt. Is it not the case with many people today? After many laying of hands, many dreams and revelation of deliverance, many falling down under the anointing, yet the problems remain. This is the spirit of Pharaoh at work! The spirit that vows not to let you go.
IV. Labor without measurable reward Ex. 1:11
Pharaoh set taskmasters over the Israelites to afflict them. They worked from morning to evening without release, without a “thank you”. They labored for other men to enjoy. “They built for Pharaoh Treasure cities, Pithom and Ramese”. Are you in such a state? Building for others to enjoy while you are struggling to pay the bills? Does the work you do feel like an affliction? It is likely the regime of Pharaoh needs to be terminated!
V. Death of breakthrough at infancy Ex. 1:15-16
Pharaoh knew that the strength of Israel was their strong men of war. He was troubled by the population growth of Israel. He must do something quickly to handle the threat – kill all the male children immediately they were born! How many dreams, visions, great projects were aborted before they take off! When pregnancies are aborted or miscarried, the spirit of Pharaoh is at work. When hopes are dashed, when opportunities suddenly fizzle out and expectations crumble, It is time to deal with the spirit of Pharaoh.
Life in Egypt is an unending toil. It is incarceration in its worst definition. Worse still, it is a life experiencing the worst of human rights abuse where discrimination, loss of recompense, abortion of hopes and destruction of vision are the order of the day.
Egypt is not to be the permanent or resting place for any member of Zion. It is not a destination but a temporary bus stop for the pilgrims on the way to Canaan. When a believer tarries longer than necessary where Pharaoh rules it will demand certain divine operations to uproot him to where his God has detailed for him.
Beloved, the spirit of Pharaoh is stubborn. It pursues from coast to coast. It is the spirit of a task master.
However, no matter the obstinacy of Pharaoh, his regime in your life has an end. Pharaoh will be brought to his knees in your life in the Name of Jesus. His intransigence will be his undoing.
In Ex. 6:1-8 certain divine processes are evident as a strategy to deal with Pharaoh and his regime in the life of the children of Israel. This is the same way God will handle all your adversaries so you can worship and serve God in peace.
i. GOD’S PROMISE. V. 1, 6-8: “Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh …” Have you not read, child of God, that He promised that He will contend with him that contends with you, that He will feed your oppressors with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blood? Did He not say that He will disappoint the devices of your enemies so that their hands would not be able to wax strong against you? Is. 49: 25, 26; Job 5: 12. If you are truly a child of the God of Israel, rejoice, your adversaries have been sentenced for failure over your life.
ii. GOD’S SOVEREIGN RULERSHIP—V2, 6, 7, 8: “I am the Lord.” “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident .” Why are you so courageous, David? “Because, ‘God is (my) refuge and my strength, a very present Help in trouble …” Ps. 27: 3; 46: 1. in four different times in Ex. 6, with a tone of absoluteness and finality He said, “I am the Lord,” that is, the Ruler, the final Authority. Pharaoh is not the Lord. He is not the absolute ruler of your life. Jehovah is! In this you can have your rest and confidence, that all the harassment of the enemy in your life, the mockery and the slander of men against your destiny are all coming to an end in Jesus’ glorious Name.
iii. PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OF HIS COUNSEL. V. 3. “I appeared to Abraham … by my Name of God Almighty, but by Name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. In carrying out your defense, God is going to make Himself known in a new way than He did in ages past. Something new that will shame your enemies is about to happen. God has manifested Himself before but this time He will show up in a new way that will confound your adversaries and there won’t be a way of escape for them. Korah, Dathan and Abiram died unusual death. (Nm. 16). There are certain revelations God will give you that is uncommon. This will bring you against the Pharaohs of your life and give you a divine cross-over to your destiny.
iv. THE POWER OF THE COVENANT V. 4: “I have also established my covenant with them to give them …” The reason why Pharaoh, your enemy, is doomed, is the covenant Jehovah made with you through the Blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Are you a child of God? Born again? Relax. No enemy shall over-run your life. You are a winner by design. 1 Jn. 4:4; 5: 4.
v. GOD IS TOUCHED BY YOUR TROUBLES—V. 5: “I have … heard the groaning of the children of Israel” So God hears? But He not only hears, He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities, our struggles. Heb. 4: 15. Have you been groaning? God is coming to rescue you. He has heard your groanings. He will come at the right time. Your trouble is in trouble. Pharaoh and his hosts will soon be drowned in the sea. Your victory is certain—because of calvary.
