"Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites..." ( Exodus 1: 8-14)
A vision from God. A fervent believer. A growing company of God's people. A prospering saint. A kingdom- focused business. The increase, multiplication and expansion of a church. All these are threats to the enemy. Whenever God's people begin to increase and prosper, fear strikes the kingdom of darkness. Satan and his cohorts get into panic mode. Motivated by this fear they begin to plot how to contain the increase of God's people. The devil hates momentum on the part of God's people. He hates a vibrant Christian, a growing and passionate church, a cutting-edge mission from God. He hates a prospering vision and an advancing and increasing army of God. His greatest fear is that God's people will arise and oppose his reign and rule in the world.
This was the same fear that struck Pharaoh in our text today. Israel, the people of God was experiencing God's increase. They were prospering and multiplying. They had momentum. Pharaoh was threatened, so he devised a strategy to break their momentum and stop their increase. It was a strategy of containment.
Containment is the age-long strategy of the enemy against the people of God. Satan's reasoning is, "if we can't handle them, let's keep them limited or isolated. Let's devise ways to marginalize them from the mainstream. Let's limit them to their churches. No matter what it takes, they must not go beyond their current bounds" We see this strategy worked out practically in various ways. We will examine them in the next few days.
One of the ways this is done is through oppression, difficulties and persecution. Pharaoh began to oppress Israel, putting heavy burdens on them, forcing them to labor. The intention was to break their spirits and stop their momentum by oppression. It however did not work. Israel's momentum increased.
If you are a believer with a vision from God. Satan too will try his best to contain you. He is afraid of you growing and becoming a force against his kingdom. This might explain the temptations you have been facing lately or the discouragement that has been trying to to overwhelm you. This may be the reason why you are going through that financial pressure or the disappointments at work. Recognize satan's strategy. Don't become discouraged and lose your passion and commitment. Keep moving. Double up on whatever you are doing. Don't quit praying and advancing with your vision. Opposition is a sign that you are a threat to the enemy. Hang on to God and the more pressure he puts on you, the greater your momentum becomes. The waters he throws will become fuel for your fire. What Satan meant for evil will turn out for your good.
Decision of the Day
I understand that Satan wants to contain me. He wants to limit my growth and increase. He has devised strategies to do this, one of which is oppression. I will not be stopped by all his machinations. I will keep growing and multiplying despite the pressures. I will not be discouraged. I am breaking every bound and limitation the enemy is trying to erect. My momentum Is maintained.
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