When visiting with friends a couple of weeks ago, he began to tell us about some of his thoughts on the correlations between some Old Testament events with events of today. I thought it was interesting and he agreed to let me post his views:

Follow the Money by Phil Wilson. 

As Christians we know that the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6:10.  Jesus also told us that we cannot serve two masters, Luke 16:13.  He was referring to loving God verses loving money. The world revolves around the false god of money.  If you desire to understand the motivation behind what goes on in the world consider who is going to profit from what happens.  Only in Christ can we be set free from the lies and deceptions of the devil, John 8:31 – 32, 47.  Whenever you hear the news, no matter the source, look at it through the lens of scripture and consider who believes they will profit from it.  Many wars have been fought over food, water and even oil. Even long-time hatreds such as between the Jews and the Arabs goes back to who gets the inheritance, Isaac or Ishmael.   Always realize that what is happening is much more involved than what is being reported.  Follow the money!

Many years ago, in the middle east was a man named Jacob who had 12 sons.  Joseph was the oldest and most favored son of the favored wife, but he was not the oldest son. Jacob was grooming Joseph to take over as head of the family, Genesis 37:12 – 14.  This would mean Joseph would get the inheritance and his brothers, that were older than he was, would only get gifts from their father, Genesis 25:1 – 6.  On one journey into overseeing what his brothers were doing Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and then sold into slavery.  Follow the money!  If Joseph is gone and is presumed dead then the inheritance would go to the oldest son and the youngest would not rule over them.  We should not forget Joseph’s dreams backed up that he would rule over his brothers. This meant God was confirming what the brothers already suspected, Genesis 37:11.

According to the promises made to Abram in Genesis 15:13 – 16 his descendants would go into Egypt and be afflicted. Joseph was to go and prepare the way according to the will of God but it did not to have be at the hand of his brothers, Genesis 45:7 -8.  The Midianites could have easily captured Joseph when he was out looking for his brothers.  The Midianites came from a land that is inhabited by those we refer to as Arabs.  His coat of many colors would have made him stand out as someone of importance and value.  Follow the money!

Egypt was the richest nation on earth, as we are now.  The people were free to own land and animals, to buy and sell as they wished.  This has been severely restricted today by the fear of a virus.  Follow the money.  We could say that the people of Egypt were like the middle class of today.  The ruling class was Pharaoh and his family, like our present-day politicians.  Then there were the priests.  The priests set the rules for living deriving their power from Pharaoh.  We could refer to the priesthood as the modern bureaucrats.

God’s salvation for Egypt and the entire middle east was through a man named Joseph who had been sold into slavery.  Even though this may not have been God’s best way, God can still turn a slave into a king.  Joseph was being trained by his father to lead but it was the crucible of slavery and prison that matured him and trained him to rely completely on God.  Joseph had a heart for God but it took time for that to mature as it does us all.  Joseph was given the gift of interpreting dreams from God.  Consider all the gifts Jesus has given to the church today for they far exceed anything Joseph had, 1 Corinthians 12:4 – 11, Ephesians 4:11.  It was that gift of interpretation that propelled him to be the second ruler in all of Egypt.  Joseph will now oversee 7 years of plenty.  Joseph’s first move was to heavily tax the people, Genesis 41:47 – 49.  The tax was not upon Pharaoh or his family, the ruling elites, nor upon the priesthood, the bureaucrats.  Does this sound familiar today.  Laws continue to be passed from which those in government exempt themselves while the people bear the burden.  One big difference is that Joseph stored up the tax whereas today the tax just disappears.  I always have wondered how a billion dollars just goes unaccounted for on the government balance sheet.   Follow the money!

Famine comes to the land and Joseph is in the best position to be of help.  Joseph sold grain to those who came to him, first from Egypt and then travelers from other lands.  The Egyptian people spent all of their money for food.  Broke and hungry they sold their livestock to Joseph for food, then their land and finally themselves into slavery, Genesis 41:56 – 57, 47:13 – 26.  What freedom the people had was now gone.  The priesthood was well provided for so they did not suffer as the people did.  Pharaoh ended up owning everything and everyone.  

We are now in a time of famine in our land with the fear of Covid.  Businesses have been shut down and scarcity is developing. Follow the money and see what develops.  We are in a forced famine by those who want to own or control everything.  Many major cities are still shut down and those who try to do business are punished.  Riots are promoted in the name of free speech. What all this does is impoverish the middle class whose resources are limited.  Like in Egypt at a certain point people give up their freedom just to survive.  Have you noticed that in many places you cannot buy or sell unless you wear a mask?  What are we being prepared for, Revelation 13:16 – 18?  If you notice those states that are the most oppressive of business and the people all have the same political view.  In Illinois the governor owns a business that is profiting from the virus.  It is in his best financial interest for a prolonged shutdown.  Soon there will be skyscrapers and other properties on sale in many cities such as New York, Chicago and L.A. because so many businesses are either shut down or severely restricted.  Who profits?  There are certain multi-billionaires who heavily fund politicians that will be getting some great bargains.  Follow the money.  Remember that during the years of the Great Depression that many of the middle class lost everything.  Those who had money took advantage and became multi-millionaires owning what others sold in fear.   

There was one major exception in Egypt and that was the family of Jacob.  Israel went into Egypt during a time of famine and began to prosper, Genesis 47:27.  The family of Jacob was restored.  The people of Israel were not well liked because they were shepherds so the Egyptians left them alone at first, Genesis 46:34.  As the famine intensified the Egyptians began to notice how Israel still prospered.  Some were resentful but others wanted to know why.  Those who resented God’s people began to persecute them.  When Israel came out of Egypt, they left wealthy and healthy, Psalm 105:37.  The church has a better covenant.  We are to prosper in every realm of life: spirit, soul and body, financially and socially that those in need will ask why, Acts 2:46 – 47, 4:34 – 35. That does not mean we will not face persecution.  When persecution comes, we can look beyond for as James 1:2 – 4 says we will lack for nothing.  The church is the light during this time of darkness and fear. 

            The Old Testament is given to us to teach us what the results of our behavior will bring, Galatians 3:24.  What happened with Joseph we can use to parallel much of what is happening today.  With upcoming elections, we can choose safety and slavery or we can choose freedom.  2 Chronicles 7:14, God is bringing healing to our land.  A great revival is at hand because God’s people are turning to Him.  There is a great revealing of the deceptions of the devil.  Those who have mocked God shall be removed from power and influence.  To be a Christian should mean something more than that you go to church.  The church glorious will stand out and those on the fence will have to make a choice between sin and righteousness, Acts 5:12 – 16.  Take notice of those churches that stand up for their right to worship verses those who coward under the dictates of the government.  Is there a virus?  Yes.  Watch those around you and you will see fear and despair.  Do not be deceived by the hype. Don’t let fear control you but in love stand firm and overcome the darkness, 1 John 4:18.  Don’t just claim to be in faith, James 2:14 – 18.  Keep in mind the black plague pandemics of Europe.  It was the church who stood up and took care of the sick and dying.  Where is the church today? There are some who are standing up for the truth.  What about us are we making the choice for personal safety or for freedom and the glory of God?