When the World Falls Apart

All right, so we are confronting a time of disaster and are about to go and take a taste of the world.  It may be that our flesh has given into some temptation, or we have just given up trying to trust God to help us in our distresses.  Our heart really yearns for the security of the plenty and good times we see portrayed and offered by the world.  We just want a little taste of the good life.  That cannot be so bad. - can it?

During the first half of the foretold four hundred thirty years, the children of Israel only had Egypt, in their hearts, while living in Canaan.  When Jacob and his family went down into Egypt and began living physically in Egypt, the last two hundred fifteen years started.

God knew that they would never again be satisfied to trust in Him alone until they had seen what it was like to really be in Egypt.  Prov 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.  The thoughts of all the things that they could have in Egypt was driving them crazy, and they would not be satisfied until they saw Egypt for themselves.  The saying, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ is true of man’s thoughts and desires throughout history.

This happens to a lot of children from Christian homes.  They have been in church among people who love and worship God; yet they look with longing at the people outside in the world, who seem to be so ‘cool’ and prosperous.  When they get to an age to leave home, many times, they leave God and the church as well.

With faces toward Egypt and mouths watering for the wealth and provision to be found there, Jacob and his family left the land of Promise - on God’s command.  God had something that He wanted them to learn there.  This time in Egypt was to give them a taste of the world, so that they would find it bitter and spit it out, never to partake of it again.

There are certain foods that I have tasted and found bitter and will not eat of them again.  Being diabetic, there are some foods that are delicious but have become deadly to me.  People who are diabetic have to control sugars.  Older people with intestinal problems cannot eat popcorn, kernel corn, or nuts.  Some people have allergies that prohibit them from eating foods that could kill them.  This food problem is similar to taking tastes of the world.  It may be delicious, and sin has great pleasure for a time, but then comes the reaping.  Prov 9:17-18 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.  Going into Egypt was Israel’s taste of the world and its sorrow.

God knew that until they got the taste of the world, they would continually be longing for and serving Egypt in their hearts.  Matt 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

They needed a heart change in order to be the people that God could use.  Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  They had sold their brother into slavery in Egypt, but they were the ones who became the true slaves to the world.

The sin of desiring the things of the world more than the things of God puts you into slavery.  You cannot serve two masters.  Unt