Parents, We Have a Map

Parents, We Have a Map

Don’t you wish your kids came with an owner’s manual? Well, they did. Actually, it’s not a manual for your children as much as a manual of the reality of the world.

I’m sure you picked up my drift and know where I’m going with this. You may even roll your eyes when I say the Bible is this manual. It is though. It’s a manual of living in this world. It’s a map to navigate this life.

A recent podcast guest, Olly Goldenberg, said that we need to realize we aren’t the first parents to raise our children in a pagan society.

He’s right.

God’s people have rarely been in control politically. God’s people have spent most of their time oppressed. We have countless accounts of God’s people in difficult times and in national distress.

For this reason, I released a new book, For Uncertain Times: 40 Truths of God’s Care in National Distress, to share lessons from when God’s people faced such times. I believe those accounts can guide us in the craziness of today.

Here’s one of those lessons, From Exodus 1 – 2, drawn from the oppression God’s people faced from the Egyptians

THEN

Israel experienced freedom for many years in Egypt, but as the Israelites’ numbers grew, that freedom was taken away. You may recall from this weeks’ introduction, not only were the Israelites enslaved, but the oppression against them—their labor and difficulties—became heavier and heavier. Pharaoh despised the Israelites.

This hatred toward God’s people didn’t end with the ten plagues in Egypt. It has continued throughout history—recorded in the Old Testament, New Testament, and through the time since the close of the New Testament to now. God’s people have an enemy—Satan. His work on Earth is centered upon destroying the people of God. This is recorded clearly in Revelation 12. Therefore, God’s people then and now need to know how to remain faithful and stand firm in the midst of persecution and great oppression like that which Israel faced from Pharaoh. That’s the purpose of this devotional book—to help you stand firm.

Not only did Pharaoh attempt to break the people of Israel through difficult labor and conditions, but he also ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all male babies born to Israel. Eventually, not only were they ordered to be killed, but also to be thrown into the Nile River. Although given this edict from the most powerful man on Earth at that time, the midwives ignored the orders. Exodus 1:17 records that these women feared God, so they didn’t carry out the Egyptian king’s orders. Though they knew Pharaoh could and probably would kill them, they feared God more. They feared the eternal repercussions more than Pharaoh’s punishment.

Reading further in that chapter we learn, due to their faithfulness, God granted them favor. That’s not always the case, but in this instance the midwives were protected from harm.

In Exodus 2, we learn of the birth of a specific Hebrew male—Moses. Moses’ mother also feared God, and rather than throwing her son into the Nile, she waterproofed a basket and placed her baby in it. She trusted God would take care of her son. Not only did God allow her son to be rescued—he allowed Moses to be rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter. God even arranged for Moses’ own mother to be selected to raise him.

Moses’ mother and the Israelite midwives stuck to their guns.

We’re not told much about how the children of Israel kept their identity and faith in God during this time, but they did. There was a vein of faithfulness in them. They had their distinction as followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

They stuck to their guns.

They stood firm.

They remained faithful even when the world turned against them, and their future seemed hopeless.

NOW

The idiom “stick to your guns” is used today as an encouragement, or a description of keeping to one’s beliefs and/or convictions even when everyone and everything is against us. This phrase originates from the Navy, as a command given to sailors who manned guns on military boats. They were commanded to stay at their posts even when the boat was under attack.

Picture the chaos aboard a battleship under fire from enemy aircraft and enemy warships. Sailors are running all over the ship and fires rage throughout. Among the smoke and gunfire, they struggle even to hear themselves think. The ship could even be taking on water. The fear of sinking would have to weigh heavily on each sailor’s mind. Still, they know they must stay at their posts and fire their guns at the enemy—not just fire, but focus with such deliberate concentration that the job is done well and effectively.

No matter what.

No matter the cost.

That’s the meaning of the idiom.

It’s what the Israelites did when faced with drastic oppression and persecution. It’s especially what the midwives did.

Though we may not be on a ship in the middle of an attack—we may be in a chaotic situation in life—if not now, we likely will be. Though we may not be stationed on anti-aircraft guns on the deck of a battleship, we’re called to keep the faith, stand firm, and continue on ahead following Christ.

When there’s uncertain times in our nation, heck, when there’s uncertainty anywhere in our lives, we must stick to our guns.

Considering the Hebrew midwives and how they didn’t fear Pharaoh and his wrath, but instead feared God and His wrath, I recall Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28, NIV).

It’s this same conviction we need for strength, courage, and this conviction provides motivation to stick and stay when we face great challenges of our faith in chaotic times.

 

INSTRUCTION FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES:

STICK TO YOUR GUNS