Egypt: Rival of God

Egypt represents a great deal in the revelation of God; and today it may well represent what the United States is for many countries; it symbolizes the “American dream,” a great power, a place of prosperity, where peoples went to seek food, resources, and even refuge. But why have we titled this message: Egypt, the Rival of God? Because, as for us, it is understood that if I am hungry I know where I must go, not to Egypt, but to my God; if I am being persecuted, I must go to God, not to Egypt; whatever it is that I need, there should be no other place to go but to turn to my God. Nevertheless, Egypt, for many, represents the place of God. All the problems God had with Israel were because of Egypt.
That is why, when Moses legislated concerning the choosing of a king in the promised land, he said, “But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor bring the people back to Egypt in order to multiply horses; for the LORD has said to you: You shall never return that way again” (Deut. 17:150). What a tremendous message for the church! May your pastors not lead you to Egypt! May your leaders not lead you to Egypt! Because they must be like Moses, they must lead the people on the road God laid out, the road of His purpose and His will: the wilderness as a school, and Canaan as the place of purpose. Follow your ministers as God commands, until the day they lead you to Egypt, because God brought you out of there, and He did it so that you would never again return to that place or by that road.
Where are the ministers leading the people of God? Egypt represents the world, the flesh, the self, complacency, whatever rivals God, whatever takes the place of God, where I run when I have no faith or trust that God can provide for me and guide me. It is terrible that Israel resisted Moses, who was leading them to what belongs to God; nevertheless, they were willing to listen to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and to anyone who would lead them back to Egypt.