Exodus 1:8: “Now there arose a new king over Egypt , which knew not Joseph.”
This is the only time that Pharaoh is referred to as a king. From here on he is referred to as Pharaoh. In Exodus 1:8 it refers to this new king as a melek (king) kadash (new). The word kadash means more than just a new king, but a king with new ideas, new plans, out with the old in with the new. Tracing the etymology of this word we find it also means destructive, false humility and jealousy. We know he was destructive to the Hebrews and jealous of them but this false humility that Pharaoh used to turn the Egyptian people against Hebrews. I mean after all, for years these people lived together in peace, just as the Jews did with the gentile Germans in the early part of the 20 Th Century. Then along comes one man, Hitler, who turned the people against the Jews.
How did the Pharaoh do this? With false humility he presented himself as a Pharaoh. When you look at the built in commentary on this word Pharaoh, you find that the word is spelled “Pei, Resh, Ayin, Hei” The Resh and Ayin spell out the word for evil. This is sandwiched between the Pei and the Hei which spell the word for mouth. Evil is between his mouth. He spoke (Pei, Hei) humble words which appeared good but evil (Resh, Ayin)was hidden between his words. Just as Hitler was the personification of evil, people readily followed him because of his eloquence and his genius at propaganda. The evil (Resh, Ayin) doer becomes truly dangerous when his lips serve the interests of his evil (Resh, Ayin) intent.
He knew not Joseph. Joseph was probably greatly honored in Egypt, but the new Pharaoh did not know him. The word to know is yara’ which is an intimate knowing, one of deep friendship. He could honor Joseph with his mouth, but in his heart he despised him.
There may be another reason the writer chose to refer to this Pharaoh as a melek (king) kadash (new). The numerical value of melek kadash is 402. The numerical value of winepress is 402. This new pharaoh was God’s instrument to press the Hebrews so that they would move out of Egypt and into the land that God promised them. Under Joseph and the favor the Hebrews experienced with the Egyptians, they lived a good life. They had all they could eat, enjoy, and the protection of the most powerful nation in the world. Why would they want to leave all that for the uncertainty of a distant land without the protection of Egypt . But you see they grew too comfortable in Egypt, they had no reason to seek God’s perfect will, so God had to send a melek kadash (new king), a winepress, to motivate them to do His perfect will. This melek kadash (new king) chose to remove all these comforts and protections and turn them into slaves.
As I have said many times, these studies are not teachings, it is simply my journal describing my journey to the heart of God. It is a study like this where I convince myself that very few people, other than myself really reads them, because there are studies where God gets very positive with me. I don’t know about you, but in my present state, I am quite comfortable, why would I want to change any of that? Yet, deep in my spirit I sense I am not in God’s perfect will for my life, I am depending on Egypt rather than God for my protection and daily bread. Sometimes these little studies can be the albatross around my neck for as I journey deep into God’s Word He shows me that I am like the Hebrews that I am really resisting His perfect will because the known is better than the unknown. In this case He is telling me to get my priorities straight about my present comforts or He will send a melek kadash (new king), a winepress to give me a little more motivation to get my priorities straight. That melek kadash (new king) could be a medical report, a twist in the economy or even a new management in my place of employment. It would not take much and suddenly I begin to closely examine my priorities.
So how about you, are you comfortable living in Egypt ? Do you have a witness in your spirit that you are not in God’s perfect will? Are you reluctant to leave Egypt because it is comfortable and providing your well being and protection? If you dependence is upon Egypt and not God, you may just be facing amelek kadash (new king).
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