Jesus said to those that believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  But some answered him, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33) How quickly man forgets. Israel of old was indeed in bondage in Egypt. Often we overlook how subtly that bondage came upon Israel. I recall a passage in Scripture that says there was a famine in the land.  The first famine in the Scriptures sets Abram going toward Egypt (Gen 12:19). How quickly our feet run to satisfy the desires of the flesh. How slowly our knees bend and our hearts are humbled to seek God's wisdom when faced with such afflictions.  Sarai the bride of Abram got entangled in the house of Pharaoh and would have remained except God interceded.  By God's intervention Pharaoh sent Abram and his wife away with all that they had out of Egypt. Years later we read there was another famine in the land besides the first in the days of Abraham.  Our Lord understanding all the imaginations of the thoughts said to Isaac, "Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee" (Gen 26:2&3). King Abimelech, the King of the Philistines took Rebecca, Isaac's bride captive. Rebecca was entangled until she too was delivered by our Lord's intervening mercies. Finally we read of another famine that was over all the face of the earth (Gen 41:56). When Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, "Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die." Joseph's brothers' sin and evil actions set their brother Joseph into Egypt. Once again Israel became entangled in Egypt. God, by His grace, blessed Joseph to prepare Egypt for this famine.

Ultimately God delivered Israel out of Egypt. God spoke to Moses saying, "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Ex. 193-5).  By nature Israel had neither a desire to take wing or flock to God as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. God heard the cry of the children of Israel and had seen the oppression. In a time accepted and in the day of salvation their Lord succoured them (2 Cor. 6:2).  God's people are made willing in the day of His power (Ps. 110:3).

The obedient heart and walk distinguishes God's peculiar treasure in this world. The obedient are exhorted to keep that which was committed unto them. There is no admonition nor is there any need to invent or modify that which God has delivered. There is still a remnant of those whom God has so graciously delivered that is willing to obey and keep that which was committed unto them today.  Man is an expert sinner but man is incapable of delivering himself from sin.  God still bares His children on eagle's wings, and bringing them to Himself.  Though many are blessed with such a great deliverance those who are God's peculiar treasure and a holy nation are but a Little Flock. They are the true servants of God, a kingdom of priests and God's holy nation. Those are known as the Lord's Church, the Primitive Baptists. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (I Corinthians 15:58) 2/1/04 Elder Marty Hoogasian