As we discovered, the first verse of Exodus is a picture of God’s loving-kindness and His plan of salvation emerges from these three names: Israel, Egypt and Jacob.
(Israel) one who struggles with God and let’s God prevail. (Egypt) besieged places of enslavement and oppression symbolizing the darkness in the world where sin and idol worship dwell – “a place to come up out of”. Interestingly, Egypt also offers an additional meaning as a place of refuge, protection and opportunity – “a place to flee to.” (Jacob) offers these two meanings to deceive, to trick, to swindle by supplanting; to displace, cut out, substitute; by overreaching – to outwit, second-guess, impede and defeat; but then it also offers hope with this meaning “May God protect!”
That first couple was duped by the enemy, but it was their decision to ignore God’s Word. Though we continue to behave as Adam, pointing fingers at God and at others to shift blame and avoid accountability, sin leaves an undeniable blemish on our soul as we journey in this world where attacks on our person – body, soul and spirit – seem to require a law such as Murphy’s to explain those many things that can go wrong, and the many times they do.
Maybe you too have offered this explanation; however, before the phrase “Murphy’s Law” was coined it was this quote and others like it that brought about its popularity, “If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those will result in a catastrophe, he’ll do it that way.”
However, God’s Word offers us time and opportunity to discover a more excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31) by seeking knowledge and understanding of His Kingdom and His righteousness and His loving-kindness (Matthew 6:33) because fear is a very powerful motivator to do those things that are both wrong and catastrophic.
I personally believe some form of fear will be found at the root of every issue with which we struggle. Fear was introduced through doubt, “Did God really say?” And what did doubt bring about – skepticism that sparks worry while adding kindling of anxiety and uncertainty, until a wild and raging fire of presumption, distrust and unbelief was ignited and spread uncontrollably on the earth.
By chapter seven of Genesis there’s an ark resting on dry land that took over a hundred years to complete with only eight human beings willing to trust God and enter. Eight points to life. Though sin was not charged against people in the beginning, it most definitely has its consequences. A life of new beginnings emerged after the deluge of God’s wrath against evil flooded the earth.
Evil exists and unlike God Who cares about us, the evil one could care less. And those who struggle with God, refusing to allow the Source of all that is Good prevail, they will remain eternally besieged in a world of sin and the idol worship of self-importance. Unable to come up out of that dark place of entrapment and oppression because they did not choose to flee to the place of Refuge, to dwell within the protection of heaven’s Light where opportunity to learn and grow in God’s Word of Truth would supplant the one who deceives, who tricks and swindles to displace, to cut out anything in a heart due to God; by overreaching to outwit, impede and defeat those who doubt and second-guess the very presence of HOPE flowing with substance and depth of meaning enabling God to protect and set free, so sin cannot make die, for our heavenly Father found a Substitute (Job 33:23 TLB) so Death does not have to be faced a second time.
Instead, the children of God will leave that place where Death resides, where the dead bodies of those who rebelled against the Lord will be seen. A place without Love, for God is Love (1 John 4:8), a place without Faith to worship Him in the new heavens and new earth He will make. A place without Hope of escaping the maggots that will never die, the fire that will never go out, and all the horrors of evil (Isaiah 66:22 ASB), because the Truth was rejected, the Way was ignored and the Life was despised, substituted with traditions, with doctrines and beliefs of human teachings (Mark 7:8 Message).
A God-fearing man whose great trust in God shines forth with brilliant colors from out of the clouds, a rainbow! An everlasting reminder of how deeply the faith of one person will touch the heart of God when honor and respect and obedient service unapologetically magnifies His Word. Noah listened to God, and the lives of his family were saved; however, he had no idea how his faith in God and His Word would one day unveil such a heavenly Masterpiece. A portrait of Baptism! A portrayal of the rising Son’s glory burning radiantly white on the multitudes saved from death and the doom of a very different kind of burning.
A God-fearing people the seventy descendants of Jacob, they made that journey into Egypt to escape famine and death. The number 70 suggests something is being fulfilled. A season is closing while another is beginning – one of renewal and recovery – with God’s leadership and restoration involved.
Biblically the number 70 signifies completeness, fullness and universality, also representing a divine order or the completion of a natural process like the 70 nations descended from Noah and the 70 elders appointed by Moses. 70 was the key to the creation of the nation of Israel. The faith of one person who experienced the magnificence of the fear of the Lord, all the awe and reverence, wonder and amazement at finding Refuge among hearts tainted by evil to oppress and enslave.
Joseph magnified the Lord with honor and homage and service that glorified his Creator, and God exalted Joseph so his brothers could know by experience how glorious the Fear of the Lord, when Truth could not be denied: “What you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this – to preserve the lives of many people. So, do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones,” Genesis 50: 20-21 BSB.
Psalm 111:10 assures the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow God’s Word have good understanding, and to Him belongs eternal praise! Fear of the Lord is an experience like no other, because it isn’t about pain or punishment or the oppression of ridicule, shame or regret, it’s about inner healing and deliverance and salvation.
The Fear of the Lord is the Truth and grace and love of God, which will be seen overflowing from His Word, when knowledge is sought; for instance, from the name of Reuben for it is rich in meaning: To see, appear, approve, behold, certainly, be near, joy, look on, show self, in the sight of others, mark, surely, perceive, think, a son, one appointed to, one born, common, firstborn, lamb, steward, stranger, surely, worthy.
Here are a few pieces of the Truth associated with the name Reuben. Pieces that portray an amazing picture of unconditional love. Of God Who intends good in order to preserve lives, to drive out fear, to provide for His people and our little ones. Pieces from the meaning of a name – Reuben – a Jewish ancestor extending knowledge to the 70 nations so the world would know God’s Word, Christ Jesus, Has become for us wisdom from God: Our righteousness, our holiness and our redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
LOOK ON: I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase
your numbers, and I will keep My covenant with you (Leviticus 26:9).
FIRSTBORN: I will pour out a Spirit of grace and prayer on My people. They
will look on the One Whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an
only son. They will grieve bitterly for Him as for a firstborn Son who has died (Zechariah 12:10).
A SON: Yes, God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
LAMB: “Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! I saw
the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him,” John the Baptist (John 1:29, 32).
CERTAINLY: “I am the Light of the World! Whoever follows Me will never walk
in darkness but will have the Light of Life,” John 8:12. Certainly, the Light is sweet. How pleasant for the eyes to behold the Son (Ecclesiastes 11:7).
MARK: I write about the Word of Life! He is God’s Message of Life! The Eternal Life in Him Who already existed with the Father and Who was made visible to us so we may share in the fellowship and the joys of a personal relationship as partners and partakers in this fellowship with God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – which is a distinguishing mark of Christians (1 John 1:1-4 AMP).
SURELY: Yes, if a person removes wickedness from their life the Almighty will become their gold, their choicest silver. Surely, they will find delight in the Almighty and will lift-up their face to the God of Jacob (Job 22:23-26).
PERCEIVE: For God does speak – now one way, now another – though a person may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls as they slumber in their beds, He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
to preserve their soul from the pit, their life from perishing (Job 33:14-18),
IN THE SIGHT OF OTHERS: Those who are lovers of self and money may listen to all these things and scoff at God’s Word as the Pharisees did. But
the Lord assures, “These are the ones who justify themselves in the sight of others, but God knows their heart. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight (Luke 16:14-15).
THINK: Repent therefore! Think differently, change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2).
COMMON: For, to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).
ONE BORN: For anyone born of God does not continue to sin. The One born
of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. The children of God know the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We also know
the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so we may know Him Who is true. And we are in Him Who is true – even in His Son Jesus
Christ. He is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:18-20).
JOY: “If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this
so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete,” John 15:10-11.
TO SEE: “Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world,” John 17:24.
APPROVE: I pray your love may abound still more and more as you grow in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by the Word of Truth, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:9-11).
For this is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers,
who approve their sayings. Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them (Psalm 49:13-14).
SURELY: The Sovereign Lord declares, “As surely as I live, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather they would turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die?” Ezekiel 33:11.
APPEAR: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He
will appear a second time not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:27-28).
BE NEAR: Therefore, for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my Refuge; I will tell of all His deeds (Psalm 73:28).
STRANGER: I dwell with God as an alien, a stranger in this land that besieges and confines, as all my forefathers were (Psalm 39:12).
SHOWED HIMSELF: The Lord showed Himself alive after His passion – His suffering in the garden and on the cross – by a series of many convincing demonstrations – unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs – appearing
to them during forty days and talking to them about the things of the Kingdom
of God (Acts 1:3).
APPOINTED: He commanded us to preach and to testify that He is the One Whom God appointed as Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name (Acts 10:42-43).
STEWARD: If you too lay all these instructions before the brethren, you will be
a worthy steward and a good minister of Christ Jesus, ever nourishing you own self on the truths of the faith and of the good Christian instruction which you are closely to follow (1 Timothy 4:6).
WORTHY: Lord, everyday I will praise You and extol Your name forever and ever! Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and
I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds. They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
BEHOLD: “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed are they who stay awake and keep their clothes with them, so that they may not go naked and be shamefully exposed,” Rev 16:15
The name of Reuben reveals how gracious and compassionate, how slow to anger and rich in love the Lord Is. He is good to all; the Lord has compassion
on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O Lord; Your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of Your Kingdom and speak of You might, so people may know of You mighty acts and the glorious splendor of You Kingdom. For Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes
of all look to You, Lord, and You give them their food. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in Truth. He fulfills
the desires of those who love Him, but the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord! Let every creature praise the holy name of Jesus for ever and ever! (Psalm 145:2-21). Oh, that people every-
where would experience the awe and amazement and wonder that comes
from knowing the Fear of the Lord. That each person would understand God intends good because we matter to Him. That faith – can touch the heart
of God when we admit we are powerless to control a heart intent on doing what is harmful to self and others.
For then the power of Hope can be released in those unmanageable areas of our life because we believe the unconditional love of God will help us find the Way to stay committed to His Word of Truth so we can put all of who we are into the Life and Refuge of Christ’s possession and safekeeping.
Lord, stretch out Your hand to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30