Exodus

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. (Exodus 1:8)

We’re reading Exodus this week as we move through the Bible. What a change from Genesis, where Joseph saved his family as well as saving the people of Egypt through his trust in God, and allowing God to lead him. God lead him in how to manage available food during famine, earning the gratitude of Pharaoh.

Time passes, memories fade, and the knowledge flees as people forget. Instead of being the people who saved their nation, the children of Israel are now interlopers.

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. (Exodus 1:14)

Forty chapters later we’ve met Moses, seen him acknowledge his people, leave Egypt, meet God, return to Egypt, ask for his people’s release, prophesy plagues, gather his people, march them across a dry sea bed, build a tabernacle and end with a cloud.

For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:38)

And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: (Exodus 36:2)

Do we still meet wise hearted men who are stirred up to do the Lord’s work? Most of us do when we attend church regularly.

Not just our pastors – how about the men who walk the aisle and pass the collection plate. I remember one young man when we first arrived at this church almost ten years ago. When he walked down the aisle passing the plate, he carried his months old son. Ten years later, that young son reaches out to shake the hands of those arriving for services. Here, too, is a wise hearted young man, stirred up to come unto the work.

Not just men -- how about women who often miss services because they spend time in the nursery. Again, about ten years ago there was a just born baby in the services. Pink ribbon on her head – so little hair!! -- and a wobbly head peeking over her mother’s shoulder. Today she’s a slender young lady with hair to her waist. No longer over her mother’s shoulder, she still smiles to those in nearby pews.

It is a blessing to know these wise hearted children, learning God’s word, just as the children of Israel, from their parents and their congregation.