I wanna take a look at Egypt’s situation right before David became king.
But before that, it’s important to see where Egypt was way before the era of 2nd Samuel.
So let’s rewind the tape to the time of the Exodus.
As we all know, through the Ten Plagues, God destroyed Egypt.
They became like Russia at the end of the 20th century.
They suffered from severe unemployment, a weakened military, and the collapse of national morale.
They also became a nation on the brink of starvation.
Recall yesterday, I talked about how a nation’s ability to feed its people was key to its prosperity.
Well, there’s another part to this a lot of folks overlook.
Manpower or the lack thereof is also key to a nation’s survival.
It wasn’t just wicked pride that kept Pharaoh from wanting to free the Israelites.
There was a practical reason why he didn’t wanna let them go.
They made up about a quarter of the population that was the labor force of Egypt.
They were the folks who built the houses, roads, monuments, and other important infrastructure any nation needs to operate normally.
When the Israelites picked up and left, overnight Egypt lost its ability to function as a society.
Even the army was affected because men who were trained to be warriors had to suddenly start doing farm work.
To bring the reality of the situation home, imagine if, in just one day, the US lost its labor force – about 75 million people.
I’m talking about all the plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, carpenters, truck drivers, and so on GONE OVERNIGHT.
The whole country would be freaking out, right?
Well, that’s exactly what happened to Egypt during the Exodus.
Social and political upheaval ensued.
Even the educated and wealthy people were like “I’m outta here” and picked up and left.
Under these circumstances, any thoughts leadership may have had about empire-building were thrown right out the window.
The Egyptians had to focus on keeping their country together.
So this was Egypt’s situation when Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River.
But what happened to Egypt about three and a half centuries later after the Exodus when David came to power?
Well, that’s what we’ll get into the next time we meet.
So let’s close with the takeaway for today.
I mentioned how a nation is devastated if it loses a major portion of its population.
Well, the same principle applies to how a nation treats Israel…
And whether or not a nation even HAS a Jewish population.
Let’s not forget what God told Abraham:
“I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you, all the families
of the earth shall be blessed.”
-Genesis 12:3
That’s why I think the Nazis were a bunch of idiots for how they treated the Jewish people
Due to their racist policies, they lost so much brain power in the form of Jews who fled Germany and other European countries
One of the folks who fled Europe was a little ole scientist named Albert Einstein whose work on the theory of relativity (and his warning to President Roosevelt) had a significant impact on the outcome of World War II.
I’m telling you, the Jewish people comprise some of the smartest people on planet Earth.
Another notable mention is Jonas Salk.
He was a medical researcher who developed the first successful polio vaccine in 1955.
His work led to the near eradication of polio, saving countless lives and preventing millions from becoming paralyzed.
Or how about Steven Spielberg, one of the most influential filmmakers in history?
Or the celebrated composer, conductor, and music educator, Leonard Bernstein?
His works, like West Side Story, have left a lasting legacy in the world of music and theater.
I could go on and on, but the point is clear.
The nation that blesses its Jewish population will be greatly blessed.
Ya feel me here homies?
Done.
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