Persecution

 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.

Exodus 1:12 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.1.12.ESV


There's an old saying, I believe by Foxe in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, that 'the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church'. I think we need to strike a note of caution however, that in many parts of the world, to openly identify as Christian is a death sentence. There's a much quicker turnaround of Christians in places like North Korea than in the United Kingdom.


If to publically identify as a believer in Yahweh is a death sentence, that isn't necessarily a good thing. Granted, in places like ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, and even contemporary China, it does seem to be that the more the powers that be seek to stamp out God's people, the more we spread. But once Pharoah settled on his genocidal policy of infanticide of male Hebrews, and Christians get thrown to the lions and put in concentration camps, it doesn't look good for us.


And yet God is able to turn our mess into a message, to borrow the cheesy phrase. His message is that if you touch His people, you touch the apple of His eye, and you're not going to succeed, or to get away with it. You can fight against believers in God and successfully murder them. But you cannot fight God and succeed.


It seems counterintuitive that the Hebrews were slaves and yet the Egyptians were in dread of them. I'm reminded of the Psalm that says, 'there [the unbelievers] are, overwhelmed with dread, for Yahweh is present in the company of the righteous'. God Himself empowers His people to act rightly in the face of grievous wrongs, and that terrifies our persecutors, even as their own consciences haunt them. 


'Yahweh, God who is, thank You for Your Sovereignty over our oppressors. Please help us to remember that our battle isn't against flesh and blood, and to pray for and love those who persecute us, blessing them even as they attempt to curse us. In Jesus' name, amen'

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