Originally posted: 02/19/2019

Today we begin the great adventure of a nation called out and set apart for Him Who Was Good.

As our story opens, what began with a promise received by faith, now appears to have taken a different direction. God’s promise, to make Abraham a great nation and to bless all nations through him, does not seem to be heading towards fulfillment.

“And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
³ And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed,” (Genesis 12:2-3).

And as the book of Exodus begins, we find the descendants of Abraham being held back from their promised greatness under the tyrannical rule of a Pharaoh, completely unaware of the history of the Israelites and their God. “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph,” (1:8).

Amidst this drama of the bad guys winning, of ignorance and evil claiming the upper hand, the true star of our story emerges, revealing Him Who Was Good.

 Consider Him Who Was Good

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live… So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. ²¹ Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them, (1:17, 20-21).

Even with the aggressive affliction of the enemy, God was Good bringing about His good purpose through two midwives who feared Him rather than man; the people multiplied and became mighty and the midwives experienced personal blessing.

And behind the evil injustice of a pagan nation inflicting unreasonable and grim enslavement upon God’s people, and then instigating the unthinkable and ruthless tyranny of infanticide, God was Good; He is forever good and His purposes prevail.

“Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, “My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure;” (Isaiah 46:10).

“Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come… “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty,” (Revelation 1:4, 8).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8).

God was Good yesterday; He is Good today; He is Good forever.

How do we respond to Him Who Was Good?

• When we find ourselves in difficulties or being mistreated, we often turn to the hope of Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
  • Today, let us consider this hope in light of the account in Exodus 1. The midwives feared God, having more regard for God and the good of others than themselves. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves… (Philippians 2:3).
    • The midwives trusted God with the outcome of their obedience, even their very lives. As we walk in faith, trusting Him for the good He is working, He calls us to obedience, not just for our good, but also for the good of others. Let us surrender our hearts to the Lord as He works in us to work His Good “to those who are called according to His purpose.”

• When the enemy seems too powerful, let us fear Him Who Was Good in obedience and faith; He alone is omnipotent.
  • “But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live,: (1:17) .
  • “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” (Matthew 10:28).

• Let us pray that His Spirit strengthen us to trust His purpose and outcome, rather than succumb to pressure from man.
  • “So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. ²¹ Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them,” (1:20-21) .
    
  • “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men,'” (Acts 5:29).

There is coming a day when God’s perfect purpose will culminate and every nation will come and bow before Him. What a privilege we have now, to worship Him with lives of reverent obedience. Oh that we would be as the midwives and fear Him Who Was Good!

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
⁴ “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed,” (Revelation 15:3-4).

God was Good yesterday; He is Good today; He is Good forever!

Let’s Grow Together!