#71 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – December 29, 2002 p.m.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM -- II

As we enter a new year, one cannot help but wonder what the world system will produce and enhance in the following days. Will this be the year in which it will be unleashed after the departure of the church? What will be its developments that will strongly appeal to believers should we not be caught away? Many have questions concerning the commerce and industry of the world system and the world economy. What a blessing it is to have one's citizenship in heavens! This message is the second message that relates to the manifestations of commerce and industry in the book of Genesis. The attached outline involves both Genesis and the early chapters of Exodus (II.). My intention was to cover all of this material in the message but only finished I. The 1/5/03 message will cover II. but with some consequential changes in its structure.

The introduction provides a review of the material of the last message. Cain and his seed provide the roots for commerce and industry of the world system. Ultimately this developed into the economic system of the world system. The development commerce and industry by Satan and his world system was a direct reaction to two curses that God had pronounced. The first was the curse of the ground at the time of the fall. The second was the cursing of Cain as a result of the murder of Abel. While the curse of the ground was burdensome to the race, Satan used a special mechanism to manipulate the race to overcome the curse. This involved the infiltration of the race by the "sons of God" providing "giants" (Nephalim) to overcome that curse. This polluted the whole of the race to the degree that God destroyed the race with the Noahic flood. Cain had been an effective tiller of the ground. Jehovah cursed him to be a wanderer and no longer capable of farming with results. He wandered to an area which he named Nod ("wanderer"). This appears to be an open confrontation with God. Ultimately his offspring built a city there which provided a backdrop for the development of the commerce and industry by the world system. Every phase of the development of commerce and industry in the world system is an attempt to overcome the results of these two curses. This message covers the relationship of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph to the world system. The patriarchs were living in an agricultural society that needed to be self-sustaining before it could become commercial. Because of the limits established by labor-intensive agriculture and matters of tillable property or adequate grazing land, patriarchal families were more isolated and far less cosmopolitan. They were involved with the world system but to a very limited degree. The results of their involvement with the world system were most interesting. Jehovah used their involvement to accomplish His purposes in spite of their original intentions.

Genesis provides several descriptions of Abraham and the world system. When Jehovah chose to become involved in Abraham's life, he was an unbeliever living in the city of Ur of Chaldees – a city of the world system. In Genesis 12 he was an unsaved man functioning in the world system. Jehovah spoke directly to Abraham telling him to leave his country, his relatives and his father's house (notice the previous past "had said" in verse one). Notice the use of "thee" in 12:1-3. They are all second masculine singulars. He left Ur with Terah his father and nephew Lot to Haran. His father took him (11:31). He did not go of his own accord. After Terah died, Abram left Haran for Canaan. He journeyed through Canaan but was driven to Egypt by famine. Even though he had built two altars, he still wasn't a believer until chapter 15. When Abram entered Egypt, he confronted the commerce of the world system. He was afraid for his life and so had Sarai say that she was his sister rather than his wife. He arrived wealthy and was asked to leave Egypt as a wealthy man when Jehovah plagued the Egyptians (12:17-20). In chapter 13:2 Abram is was rich (lit. heavy) in cattle, silver and gold. The silver and gold indicate that he was involved in the world system and its commerce and industry in order to obtain these valuable metals. He didn't carry a gold pan in his goods to get these elements of riches. Chapter 13 further describes the burden placed on the land by his riches and those accumulated by Lot. Lot was a believer at this time (2 Pe. 2:7, 8) while Abram was not. They could not live together because their portable goods were so great (13:6). Abraham was saved at the time of the making of the first Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 15 (cf. Rom. 4:1-5). In Gen. 20 Abraham does the same thing he did in Egypt as an unbeliever with his wife. He announced that Sarah was his sister so Abimelech the king of Gerar sent and took her. In a dream Abimelech learned that she was Abraham's wife and quickly restored her to Abraham. Abimelech was threatened with death. As a result, he gave Abraham sheep, oxen, menservants and women servants plus 1,000 pieces of silver. Abimelech's life, people and lineage were saved and Abraham went away richer having benefited from the commerce and industry from the world system. Abraham had done the same thing after he was saved as he did before he was saved. When Sarah died, he insisted on purchasing the Cave of Machpelah as a burial ground rather than accept it as a gift. He used the processes of the world system to gain firm possession of the property that could not be held in doubt. He refused to accept the property as a gift so that there would be no legal questions concerning the rights of possession.

In Genesis 26 Isaac did the same thing that his father had done. Abimelech was king of the Philistines living in Gerar. "Abimelech" is a title rather than a proper name. It means "my father is king" and so one who bore the title was the rightful heir to the throne. "Pharaoh" is also a title. Isaac claimed Rebekah was his sister. The king saw Isaac and Rebekah involved in a conjugal relationship and knew that they were husband and wife. He permitted them to live in the land though he reprimanded Isaac for putting his people at risk of death. His moral standards were higher than Isaac's standards were. 26:12 indicates that Isaac was blessed in a commercial way. He received a hundredfold. He was very very great and continued to prosper having many animals and slaves. The result was that the Philistines were jealous (26:14). The next involvement with the world system involved the possession of water rights and wells. The Philistines had filled the wells dug by Abraham (cf. 21:30, 31 for an example). Abraham had named the well in 21:31 Beer Sheba which literally means "Well #7." This gives some indication of the number of wells that Abraham had dug. The Philistines insisted that Isaac leave their immediate presence so he went and opened the wells that Abraham had dug calling them by the names that Abraham had called them. The Philistines evidently claimed those wells plus two new wells dug by Isaac and his servants (26:15-21). Finally they dug a well that the Philistines did not claim in verse 22. Water runs an agricultural society and its commerce and industry. The Philistines took full advantage of the newly dug or cleared wells as is so typical of the world system by claiming water rights.

Shechem was a Hivite who raped Dinah and fell in love with her (Gen. 34). Hamor his father went to Jacob to make arrangements for a marriage. Ultimately Jacob said that his daughter could not marry the uncircumcised Hivites. Shechem and Hamor approached the men of the city with the proposal that if they were all circumcised, there would be extensive economic benefits to all and a larger selection of women for wives. The result was that the men were circumcised and in the third day were slain by Simeon and Levi because of the defilement of Dinah. There was a commercial and industrial benefit to Jacob in that all of the assets of the city were taken and its women and children. Of course, Jacob didn't appreciate this because he was made to stink before the inhabitants of the land.

Genesis 36 finds Esau as he moved to Mount Seir or Edom. He had gained much wealth in portable property, money, animals and slaves. It was necessary for him to go away from Jacob because of the wealth of the two of them. His wealth was the basis for a new civilization in the world system identified with the Edomites.

Joseph had a multitude of relationships in his experience with the world system. First, he was sold to a group of traveling merchants in Genesis 37:27, 28. His brothers identified Midianites who traveled through as merchantmen. They may have been slave traders. At least they were willing to give 20 pieces of silver for Joseph. The world system is always willing to accommodate the desires of men for its own advantage. Joseph became a slave and was sold in Egypt. In Egypt Joseph ran Potiphor's house (39:2-6). There he efficiently used the world system to do everything that Potiphor needed except to eat. The household prospered. Joseph entered the court because of his ability to interpret dreams. This led him directly into the center of all commerce and industry in Egypt. He gained great wealth for Pharaoh to the extent that Pharaoh ended up owing all of the property in Egypt except that of the priests. Jehovah used his involvement with the world system to bring Joseph's father and brothers to Egypt. He accomplished great commercial advantage and industrial power in the world system of the Middle East. He was rewarded and honored for his great accomplishments. The world system takes advantage of economic information and skilled administrators to advance its commercial and industrial advantage. These qualities of the world system have always been true. Those in the world system seek to get an advantage over others in the system by the system.

Fully equipped with God's gracious possessions in Christ Jesus,

DKS

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To examine the roots of commerce and industry as developed in the world system from its origin. There was a fertile environment for developing these areas from the very beginning of the world system.

Introduction

A. The Roots of World System Commerce and Industry with Cain

B. The Reaction to the Curses Upon Men

1. Upon the Ground

2. Upon Cain

C. The Relationship of the Commercial World System to the Old Testament Patriarchs

D. The Restrictions of Patriarchs from the Commerce of the World System

1. Agrarian Society

2. Acquired Isolation

TRANS: Elements of commerce and industry of the world system are evident throughout history as it is revealed in the Old Testament and especially in the book of Genesis.

I. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM INVOLVING COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ILLUSTRATED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS – THE DEPENDENCY OF WORLD SYSTEM COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ILLUSTRATED IN GENESIS – A PROGRESSION OF THE DEPENDENCY ON COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM

A. Abraham and His Economic Security

1. His Running to Egypt and Trouble Because of Famine – Gen. 12:10 (before his

salvation)

2. His Riches and Their Impression – Gen. 13:2

3. His Relationship with Lot – Gen. 13:5-7

4. His Rerunning of the Scene Produces More Commerce – Gen. 20:14-16 (after his

salvation)

5. His Righteousness in Purchasing the Cave of Machpelah – Gen 23 (vss. 9, 10, 13,

15, 16)

B. Isaac and His Economic Prosperity – Genesis 26

1. His Great Possessions in the Land of the Philistines – 26:12-14

2. The Problem of Commerce, Wells and Water Rights – 26:15-23

C. Shechem and His Commercial Intentions and Their Results – Gen. 34

1. The Reason for the Circumcision – 34:20-24

2. The Results for the City – 34:25-30

D. Esau and His Economic Prosperity – Gen. 36:6-8

E. Joseph and the Commerce of His Day

1. The Sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites – Gen. 37:27, 28

2. The Sharing of Joseph in the Commerce of Egypt – Gen. 39

a. In Potiphor's House – 39:2-6

b. In Pharaoh's Court

(1) The Dreams and Their Economic Results – Gen. 41:1-36

(2) Joseph's Duty in the Commerce of Egypt – Gen. 41:37-47

(3) The Dependence of the Sons of Israel Because of Famine – Gen. 42

c. In Famine with His Family and Commerce – Gen. 42-46

(1) The Commercial Advantage of Egypt

(2) The Competent Administration by Joseph

(3) The Coordinated Acquisition by the Economic World System for Egypt

TRANS: The events at the beginning of the book of Exodus provide us with a great deal of revelation concerning the way the world system functions and its characteristics in relation to commerce and industry.

II. THE SUBJECTION OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO THE EGYPTIAN ECONOMIC MACHINE USED AS A DEFENSE MECHANISM – THE DEMOTION OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO SLAVARY TO EGYPTIAN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE -- A PLACING OF ISRAEL UNDER THE CONTROL OF AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM AS ITS SLAVES

A. The Construction of the Treasure Cities of Pithom and Raamses – Exodus 1:10-14

1. The Reason: Potential Military Threat Because of Population

2. The Responsibility: To Build Treasure Cities

3. The Results:

a. The More They Afflicted Them

b. The More They Multiplied and Spread Out

B. The Cry of Israel in Egypt Before the Exodus as a Part of Industry – Exodus 2:23-25

C. The Connections with Industry and Commerce of Egypt – Exodus 1:11, 14

1. Built Treasure Cities – 1:11

2. In Mortar – Collection, Construction – 1:14

3. In Bricks – Collection, Fabrication

4. In All Their Service in the Field

5. All Their Service They Made Them Serve with Toil

D. The Condition of Israel as Slaves in Egypt's Industry – Exodus 1-6

1. Afflict -- hn"[' (ahnah) -- 1:11, 12

2. Crushed – %r,P,i (perek) – 1:13, 14

3. Made Bitter – rr;m'i (mahrar) – 1:14

4. Hard Bondage – hv"q"i (qahshah) – 1:14

5. Affliction -- ynI[' (ahnah) – 3:7,17

6. Burden(s) -- hl'b.si (siblah) – 1:11; 2:11; 5:4, 5; 6:6, 7

7. Groaned or Sighed -- xn:a' (ahnach) – 2:23

8. Cried -- q[;z" (zahaq) – 2:23; 3:7, 9

9. Cry -- h['w>v; (shawah) – 2:23 (cry for help)

10. Groaning -- hq'a'n; (naahqah) – 2:24

11. Taskmasters = Drivers/Oppressors – fg:n" (nahgas) – 3:7; 5:6, 10, 13, 14

12. Sorrows = Pains – bwOa.m; (maohv) – 3:7

E. The Concentration of Pharoah on Intensifying the Pressure on Israel at the Approach of Moses and Aaron – Exodus 5:10-14

1. The Removal of Straw for Bricks and Collection of Stubble

2. The Requirement of Maintaining the Quota of Bricks

3. The Results

1. Servants Are Smitten – 5:16

2. Quota Maintained – 5:18, 19

F. The Coming of the Ten Plagues and Their Affect on Government and Industry

1. Plague #1 = Waters to Blood – 7:14-25

2. Plague #2 = Frogs – 8:1-5

3. Plague #3 = Lice – 8:16-19

4. Plague #4 = Biting Flies – 8:20-32

5. Plague #5 = Plague Killing Livestock – 9:1-7

6. Plague #6 = Boils on Man and Beast – 9:8-12

7. Plague #7 = Heavy Hail and Lightening – 9:13-35

8. Plague #8 = Locusts – 10:1-20

9. Plague #9 = Darkness – 10:21-27 (economy stopped for three days)

10. Plague #10 = Death of First Born (Cattle and Men) – 11, 12

G. The Continuation of the Divine Reminder of Jehovah's Ultimate Control of Commerce and Industry

1. "Remember That You Were a Slave in Egypt"

2. Deuteronomy 5:15; 15:15; 16:12; 24:18, 22

TRANS: Few really consider the involvement of the world system and its commerce and industry in early Exodus. Often there has been some emphasis on religion of the world system but rarely the relationship of commerce and industry and the concepts of slavery to the world system economic system early in history. Next Sunday we plan to evaluate the role of slavery in commerce and industry in the world system.

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119