FROM FREEDOM TO SLAVERY
Genesis 47:20-21, 25
"Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's. As for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. .... So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.' "
Genesis 47 records the descent of a nation from freedom to slavery. Freedom was not lost by being conquered by another nation, but by internal disintegration. It happened slowly over a period of years. In the beginning, they were an independent people, owing their own land and providing for their own sustenance. But during the famine, they gradually relinquished their freedom as they became more and more dependent on the government to meet their needs. First, the state took control of all the money in the nation (vs. 14), then their livestock (vs. 16), until all they had left was their bodies and their land (vs. 18b). So the government took possession of all the land (vs. 20), and they became share-croppers, farming the land that belonged to the state and giving the government 20% of their income in taxes (vs. 24). Finally, they surrendered themselves as slaves and became totally subjugated to the state (vs. 25), which took control of their lives and moved them where it wanted. Thus their freedom and self-determination was slowly surrendered as the people became more and more dependent on the government. The state is a hungry behemoth that will take all that it can, and control all that it can. It probably seemed like a good thing -- or at least a necessary evil -- in the beginning, but it ended up in slavery. Sadly, America is travelling the same path. May God help us.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The road from freedom to slavery happens slowly as people become more and more dependent on the government.
[end]
Have a "freedom" day. Love you.
Genesis 47:20-21, 25
"Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's. As for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. .... So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.' "
Genesis 47 records the descent of a nation from freedom to slavery. Freedom was not lost by being conquered by another nation, but by internal disintegration. It happened slowly over a period of years. In the beginning, they were an independent people, owing their own land and providing for their own sustenance. But during the famine, they gradually relinquished their freedom as they became more and more dependent on the government to meet their needs. First, the state took control of all the money in the nation (vs. 14), then their livestock (vs. 16), until all they had left was their bodies and their land (vs. 18b). So the government took possession of all the land (vs. 20), and they became share-croppers, farming the land that belonged to the state and giving the government 20% of their income in taxes (vs. 24). Finally, they surrendered themselves as slaves and became totally subjugated to the state (vs. 25), which took control of their lives and moved them where it wanted. Thus their freedom and self-determination was slowly surrendered as the people became more and more dependent on the government. The state is a hungry behemoth that will take all that it can, and control all that it can. It probably seemed like a good thing -- or at least a necessary evil -- in the beginning, but it ended up in slavery. Sadly, America is travelling the same path. May God help us.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The road from freedom to slavery happens slowly as people become more and more dependent on the government.
[end]
Have a "freedom" day. Love you.
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