The Christian's friendship, service and worship are hated by the world
THREE times in Scripture we read about "the abomination of the Egyptians." (Gen. 43:32; 46:3432And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 43:32)
34That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 46:34); Ex. 8:2626And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? (Exodus 8:26).) In order to gain a practical application of these three passages, it is helpful to see what the Egyptians represent in a spiritual sense.
In Moses’ day Egypt was marked by learning, pleasures and treasures (Acts 7:2222And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. (Acts 7:22); Heb. 11:25, 2625Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:25‑26)). Surely a parallel can be drawn with the conditions of materialistic lands today. Entertainment, luxury, possessions and education govern the lives of many people. The Nile River was the great water supply which sustained life in this desert land. The people of God in the land of Israel looked heavenward for rain; the Egyptians looked downward to the river for their refreshment.
Today God's people always need to realize that the source of their blessing is from above and to be in present dependence upon God rather than looking for sustainment from this world, which walks in independence from God. While much could be said in regard to Egypt, it is easily ascertained that its general character in Scripture is typical of the world in its boasted but empty glory going on in a course of independence from God.
In writing to the Galatians, Paul speaks of the world's being crucified to him, and he to the world (Gal. 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)). Any person who was crucified was an object of contempt as well as being one whose career on earth had come to a close. While the force of Paul's expressions in Galatians are primarily in reference to the religious world, this truth can also be applied in broader terms.
In Crucified to the World
The Christian should view the world system in its course of independence of God as an object of contempt. The believer is in the world, but not of it and so should not be seeking to find his pleasure in that which does not want his Savior. Our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth, and we should desire and seek to deliver souls from the coming wrath, rather than link up with them in earthly pursuits.
The world looks upon the Christian with contempt because he belongs to Christ and to heaven, and desires to walk according to the principles of Scripture. Being "crucified to the world" relates to "the abomination of the Egyptians." There were certain things that were abominations to the Egyptians, and so there are with the ungodly today. "An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked." Prov. 29:2727An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. (Proverbs 29:27).
The first mention of an abomination to the Egyptians is about eating with the Hebrews "They set on for him [Joseph] by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians." Gen. 43:3232And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 43:32).
The Hebrews are the same people as Israelites but looked upon with disdain rather than with favor. (Compare 1 Sam. 14:1111And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. (1 Samuel 14:11).) It is quite easy to behave as the godless about us and miss any reproach for Christ's sake. If true to the One who died for us, however, and desirous to walk with Him in separation from this world, it will bring reproach. Eating may be taken literally but it also embraces the thought of social life in general. If we meet the world on its ground, there will be no reproach; but if we stand and speak for God, our company will not be courted for long.
The second reference to abomination is in Gen. 46:3434That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 46:34), "For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians." The Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of as the good Shepherd, the great Shepherd and the chief Shepherd. The announcement of His birth was made to shepherds, and it is to those who faithfully carry on the work of shepherding that a special reward will be granted (1 Peter 5:2-42Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:2‑4)).
How God values shepherds! But shepherding care is distasteful to the ungodly. Have the opinions and views of this unbelieving world tainted our outlook as well? Selfishness marks this present age and is diametrically opposed to true shepherding care. For one to spend and to be spent for others for the sake of Christ is a manifestation of a shepherd's heart.
The third mention of an abomination to the Egyptians is in Ex. 8:2626And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? (Exodus 8:26), and is used in connection with worship to Jehovah. Egypt was filled with idols. For the Israelites to join in this pagan idolatry, they did not need to leave Egypt. Pharaoh sought to detain them in Egypt, not by offering them idols but by suggesting they worship God there. How many dear Christians have, in type, listened to this subtle advice. They have refused the idols, so to speak—empty formalism and ritualism—but have taken up the worship of God without separating from that which is incompatible with the true character of Christianity.
Outside the Camp
The path for true worship and service will lead the believer to go outside the camp, which is Judaism or the parallel of such, and to separate from vessels to dishonor (2 Tim. 2:20, 2120But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20‑21); Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)). To go along in fellowship with those who do not deem it necessary to judge and deal with evil teaching or immorality is sad compromise. To separate from evil and to follow on with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart is the path to which God calls us. Such a path will be unpopular, misunderstood, and held in ridicule, but it is the path of obedience and blessing.
May our thoughts, then, be governed by the Word of God as to our social life, our service, and our worship. If such makes us "an abomination to the Egyptians," may we esteem it the reproach of the cross and rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:4141And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41)).
W. Brockmeier