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3.13 Foreign Nations

What about the countries that were outside the circle of God's favor, those who did not receive "most favored nation" status?  One element running through Exodus concerns God’s intentions toward Egypt and the rest of the world:

          a.  God was not just proving Himself to Israel, but also to Egypt.  Yet His power was shown in judgment, not redemption:
       
         "So you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.  For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.  But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth" (Ex 9:14-16).

         See also Ex 7:5Ex 14:4Ex 18.  God gained glory by overpowering the chariots and horsemen.

         b.  Not only Egypt, but also the Canaanite nations, would hear of these things and tremble (Ex 15:14-6).

         c.  He humiliated the magic arts and wise men of Egypt:  Ex 7:11-12Ex 7:22Ex 8:7Ex 8:18-19Ex 9:11.     

         d.  The Canaanites continued to be seen in negative terms.  God promised to blot out Amalek (Ex 17:14-6), and to wipe out the other inhabitants of Canaan Ex (23:23).  He will drive them out, but gradually (Ex 23:27-30).  Israel was not to make covenants with or tolerate them, because they were a snare (Ex 23:31-33Ex 34:12-15)).

         e.  On the other hand, God tolerated many non-Israelites who left Egypt with Israel:  "Many other people went up with them" (Ex 12:38).  The King James reads “a mixed multitude”.   These camp followers were not a positive influence on Israel.  They are called "rabble" in Num 11:4, complaining about food.  And no doubt they participated enthusiastically in the celebration of the Golden Calf.

         

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