Exodus is one of my
favorite books in the Old Testament. It
is interesting to note that one of the main characters in the story of the
Exodus is never named. The early chapters
record the actions and dialog of Pharaoh.
But “Pharaoh” is not a name. It’s
a title. There were many Pharaohs over
the centuries in ancient Egypt and we’re not sure which one was the Pharaoh of
Exodus. To me, it’s interesting that
the most powerful man on earth at the time is a main character in the account,
but his name is never given.
What makes this even more
striking is some of the names that we do know.
We know, for instance, the names of the Hebrew midwives: Shiphrah and
Puah. Moses’ wife’s name was Zipporah. We know that his father-in-law was named
Jethro. Moses’ brother was Aaron, and
their sister was named Miriam. As far
as the world was concerned these people were nobodies. They were Hebrew slaves, unimportant and
powerless as far as the world at large was concerned. But they’re named personally in God’s book. And the most powerful world leader is simply
referred to as “Pharaoh.”
God obviously has a
different standard of measurement than the world. The people who were judged as insignificant by the world in
Jesus’ day were the ones he seemed to pay special attention to. He took time for the children, the sick, the
outcasts and sinners. In Isaiah 55:8-9
we read, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts...”
Have you ever felt
unimportant and insignificant? Rest
assured that you are very precious to God.
Don’t judge your worth by the standards of this world. God loves you so much He sent His Son to die
for you. If you know Jesus as Lord and
Savior, your name is in the book!
“But many who are first
will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matt
19:30)