The Exodus is one of the most remarkable stories in the Bible. After 400 years of slavery, the children of Israel were finally being redeemed from their Egyptian taskmasters. This is a powerful story about people in slavery who rose up against tyranny. Although they would face many hardships, they would eventually inhabit a new promised land under a new covenant and law.
The story is so profound it has been repurposed over the years to exemplify a multitude of causes. The Exodus story was borrowed by many who came to the new world. Many felt they were escaping the bondage of their Egypt and heading for their own promised land. During the American Revolution, our founding fathers drew consolation from the Exodus story. To demonstrate the comparison, some wanted to depict Moses on the Great Seal of the United States. Like Moses, America too was rebirthing itself with a new covenant and a new law. The Exodus symbolism was also used by both sides during Mr. Lincoln’s War Between the States. Both Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King would draw inspiration from the Exodus in explaining the plight of African-Americans.
Of course, today the Exodus story has been all but eliminated from most public school and college classrooms, so it is not as well known in modern society. That is a great loss, for it is such a revealing story filled with meaningful lessons. It is a story of how two million people, under the direction of God and the leadership of Moses, left the bondage of Egypt for the anticipated milk and honey of the Promised Land.
However, there is another side of the event that is not often discussed. As positive as the Exodus was for the Children of Israel, let’s consider its detrimental effects upon Egypt:
First, Egypt’s economic system would be severely crippled. As horrific as slavery may be, you cannot instantly take that much free labor out of the work force and not leave a nation toddling near economic disaster. The so called “Reconstruction” of the American south certainly attests to this fact.
Second, Egypt’s military was severely crippled. I am sure Egypt had many more soldiers than those who drowned in the Red Sea, but I am equally sure Pharaoh would have been surrounded by the most elite and well-trained forces available. These soldiers were the cream of the crop, and now they were gone.
Third, Egypt’s political system was crippled. There is some debate as to whether Pharaoh was killed in the sea, but if not, he would certainly return as a weakened and defeated king. This would not be great press for a man who reckoned himself to be a god.
Fourth, Egypt’s religious system was all but destroyed. Egypt was a land of many gods, and the plagues were intended to be a “smiting blow” of judgment against the “gods” of Egypt. Each of the plagues was designed to neutralize confidence in these false deities. For example, Osiris and several lesser gods were associated with the Nile River. When the water was turned to blood, the reputation of the river deities was destroyed. When the sun was darkened for three days; the light from Ra the sun god was quenched by the powerful God of the Hebrews.
It was an awesome spectacle as some two million Hebrews made their way from the land of Goshen toward the Red Sea, but as we have seen, it was no fun being on the wrong side of the Exodus.
Another Exodus Is Coming
The next Exodus of God’s people will occur at the rapture of the church. We will also be leaving a land of oppression. Satan, the god of this world, is doing everything to keep God’s people in slavery and bondage. Unlike Moses, Christ will not ask for permission to take His people to their promised land. Also, He will wait for His people to depart before he begins distributing horrendous plagues upon the earth. This Exodus will be world-wide, but once again, those departing will be limited to the members of God’s family.
Yet, just like in the land of Egypt, the Exodus of the church will level a crippling blow to the earth. So much in fact, the Lord says if those days were not shortened no flesh would be left alive on the entire planet. Once again, it will not be fun being on the wrong side of the Exodus.
Just as there was a great Exodus in the past, and a greater Exodus destined for the future, there is also a great Exodus occurring today.
An Exodus from Christian Families
Ask any Christian parent what their greatest desire might be and they will likely respond by saying, “I want my children to accept Christ and faithfully follow Him all the days of their lives.” Unfortunately, many parents face the unbearable experience of watching their children leave the faith as they grow older. A study conducted several years ago by the Southern Baptist Convention indicated they were losing up to 88 per cent of their youth after their freshman year in college. It was also revealed that an astounding 70 per cent of teenagers involved in church youth groups stop attending church within two years of their high school graduation.
Although the reasons behind this exodus from the faith of our fathers may be many, one of the answers to this epidemic might be quite simple. You see, all too often Christian parents fail to demonstrate the reality and importance of their faith. Children need to see faith in action. They need to see that God is the reason they live in a happy and peaceful home (assuming they do). They need to see the kind of home they will wish to have when they grow up. They need to see that God’s Word is important. Children must recognize that to Dad and Mom the Bible carries the very authority of God himself.
Children need to see that church is important to their parents. Then, if they have respect for Dad and Mom, they will likely have respect for the church, also. Parents need to put their faith in action. Children need parents who are passionate about their faith, who have a passion to worship the King, a passion for prayer, and a passion for Christian service. Every parent is painting a portrait of God for their children. What does your picture look like?
Children need to learn to trust in the Lord, but as the apostle Paul warns us, how can they believe when they’ve not heard? Do your children “hear” about God from your words and actions? Even though children are under our authority for a relatively short time, our parental influence in their lives is significant.
In the Old Testament, Moses stressed to his people the importance of teaching children about the LORD and His commands, decrees, and laws:
“And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates.”
Deuteronomy 11:19-20
And in the New Testament, parents are commanded to raise their children in the:
“nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4
The importance of teaching our children the truth of Scripture at an early age is put into perspective by this sobering statistic from Barna: only about six percent of people who are not Christians by age 18 will become Christians later in life. That frightening thought should reverberate deeply in the hearts of parents who aspire to have their children attain the eternal life that Jesus Christ died to give us. There is a huge Exodus from Christian families, and like Egypt, it is no fun being on the wrong side of the Exodus.
An Exodus from Christian Schools and Colleges
A few years ago when Christian parents were selecting a school for their children, they often looked for a Christian school. They looked for Christian administrators and teachers, a God focused curriculum, and a wholesome environment. They were rarely as concerned about secular accreditation, the sports program, or the beauty of the campus.
Today parents have a host of secular questions about teaching techniques, common core, and academic credentials, long before the questions finally move on to the spiritual dimension. Most Christians, including Christian leaders, do not see the importance of a Christian education today. So, Christian schools, unless they can convince the parent they are really a secular school where you can still pray and read your Bible, are slowly beginning to die.
The same is true for Christian colleges. Most have made the transition from a Christian college to a liberal arts college in order to survive. It is sad to see Christian schools and colleges closing or compromising. Once again, it is no fun being on the wrong side of the Exodus.
An Exodus from Churches and Ministries
A record number of people are leaving what we might call fundamentalist Bible-believing churches. Although these churches may vary some in their theology, in general, they believe in the literal truth and inerrancy of the Bible, the virgin birth, and literal resurrection of Christ; they emphasize original sin and human depravity, they teach the need to accept Christ as one’s Saviour in order to avoid eternal damnation; they believe in a literal Heaven and Hell, along with actual angels, demons, and Satan; and they usually believe in evangelism to the world and separation from the world.
Many churches have tried to stop the exodus by utilizing various forms of contemporary worship. However, I personally believe this will soon run its course. Modeling worship after commercial entertainment is a compromise of our real identity.
Have you noticed that many churches today are explicitly constructed not to look and feel too much like a religious place? This is a stark contrast to the churches of old. It is interesting that recent research from Barna found that 67 percent of millennials prefer a “classic” church building over a modernized structure. It was also interesting that 77 percent would rather worship in a “sanctuary” over an auditorium.
People are not just forsaking churches; they are also forsaking other Christian ministries. In a recent edition of Giving USA, it was noted that giving to religion is on the decline, while giving to other charities has actually increased. Americans are a generous people and have actually increased their giving by 12.3 percent since 2009. Sadly giving to religious causes has decreased 2.4 percent over the same period.
A few decades ago over 50 percent of the adult population gave to religious causes. Today, that number has dropped to 31 per cent. Furthermore, of that number the current level of household giving only amounts to 2.58 per cent of their annual income. Sadly, this mirrors a 2008 Smith-Emerson study which shows that 20 percent of American Christians give nothing.
This is one of the reasons churches and ministries are struggling. Perhaps, that also explains the challenges we have faced during our recent Share-A-Thon fund drives. Can you imagine the additional impact should the charitable tax deduction be eliminated or threatened? Hundreds of additional superficial givers will likely cease their giving.
We are seeing an Exodus as people forsake the church and stop their support of Christian ministries, and once again, it is no fun being on the wrong side of the Exodus.
We are going to be on the “good side” of the Exodus at the rapture of the church. However, we are on the bad side of the Exodus from the church, from our Christian institutions, and from our Christian families,
This hemorrhaging must stop. May each of us do our part. We must demonstrate for our children the reality and value of the Christian faith. We should support our Christian schools, colleges, and seminaries, and we must support by our prayers, attendance, service, and giving our local churches and other worthwhile and faithful ministries. These Godly institutions are facing an exodus of Biblical proportions, and you can be assured, it is no fun being on the wrong side of the Exodus.
Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry over forty years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries.