In Scripture, Egypt symbolizes the world and sinfulness—the place from which God separates His people.
Les Feldick teaches that Egypt is a picture of the world and sinfulness. God drew a literal division between Israel and Egypt, and the New Testament applies this same separation to believers. Scripture also shows Egypt as a pagan nation whose gods God judged.
Exodus 8:23 — God explicitly made a division between His people and Egypt, showing Egypt as the separated-from world.
Genesis 46:3 — God permitted Jacob to go down to Egypt and promised to make a great nation there, even though Egypt normally pictured the world.
Exodus 12:12 — God's judgment on the gods of Egypt identifies Egypt as a pagan, worldly system.
The Old Testament itself does not give a dictionary definition of Egypt as a symbol. Instead, it shows Egypt as a place of pagan gods and as the nation from which God separated His people. In Exodus 8:23 God said, 'And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.' In Exodus 12:12 He declared, 'For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.' Even before the Exodus, God told Jacob, 'fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation' (Genesis 46:3). These are the facts Scripture records about Egypt.
Les Feldick teaches that Egypt in Scripture is a picture of the world and sinfulness. He notes that God had instructed Israel not to go down to Egypt, but later permitted Jacob to take his family there because He was going to make them a great nation (Clip 2). Les emphasizes that separation runs through Israel's history: God drew an invisible line around Goshen so even insects would not cross, and He put a division between Israel and Egypt (Clip 3). After the Exodus, the instructions were clear that Israel was to have nothing to do with the surrounding peoples and was to be a separated, holy nation (Clip 4). Les applies this to believers today: Paul gives the same separation directions in 2 Corinthians, establishing a line of demarcation between the believer and the world, because no one can serve two masters (Clip 1). He also points out that the plagues were directed against the gods of Egypt, proving their pagan worship had nothing to do with God and that He could destroy them at will (Clip 7).
Les Feldick says Egypt in Scripture is a picture of the world and sinfulness. He explains that God, up until that time, had instructed them not to go to Egypt. When Jacob wanted to go down to Joseph, God told him not to fear and permitted the move, saying He would make Israel a great nation there.
God drew an invisible line around Goshen so that even the insects would not cross into Israel's area. He said, 'I will put a division between my people and thy people.' This division separated Egypt, the pagan world, from Israel, God's covenant people.
Les applies the Old Testament separation to New Testament believers. Paul gives the same set of directions in 2 Corinthians: a line of demarcation between the believer and the world, and no one can serve two masters. Christianity today has blurred the difference between Christians and unbelievers, but God intends believers to be different and separate from the world's lifestyle.
Every plague was directed against one of the gods of Egypt. God proved that their pagan worship had nothing to do with Him, and He could destroy them at will. News of what God did in Egypt spread through the then-known world, and Egypt was left ruined.
Why Abram Failed in Egypt & God Restored Him | Genesis 12-14
the Canaanite was the offspring of Ham, the second son of Noah. And Canaan was the son of Ham, of course. And on that particular individual was the cursed place. So the Canaanites are going to be a wicked, ungodly people from the very time that Abraham comes into their midst, until finally they are more or less destroyed when Joshua and the children of Israel come in some 400 years later.
New Testament Separation
Les shows that Paul in 2 Corinthians repeats the Old Testament separation principle: a line of demarcation between believer and world, because you cannot serve two masters.
Egypt as the World
Les directly identifies Egypt as a picture of the world and sinfulness, and explains that God previously told Israel not to go there before permitting Jacob to go.
Division Between Israel and Egypt
Les explains that God drew an invisible line around Goshen and put a division between His people and Egypt, showing Israel as a set-apart people.
Israel's Separation as a Nation
Les teaches that Israel was to be a separated, holy nation with nothing to do with surrounding peoples, and applies this to believers today.
Where Will Jews Flee During the Tribulation? Revelation 12
Ephesians 2.1 Pharaoh was drowned in the Red Sea, and Israel came out on the other side untouched. The Antichrist sends his army after the escaping remnant of Jews, the earth opens up and buries every one of them, and Israel goes on into her place of safety.
Egypt's Ruin
Les shows that God's judgment on Egypt became known throughout the ancient world and left Egypt wasted.
Judgment on Egypt's Gods
Les points out that every plague was aimed at one of Egypt's gods, proving their pagan worship was powerless.
Genesis 46:3: And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
God permits Jacob to go down to Egypt, showing that the place which pictures the world could still be used for His covenant purpose.
Exodus 8:22: And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.
God separated Israel's land from Egypt, even in the matter of the plagues.
Exodus 8:23: And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
This is the explicit division God made between Israel and Egypt.
Exodus 12:12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
God's judgment on Egypt included executing judgment against its gods.
Les Feldick teaches that Egypt in Scripture is a picture of the world and sinfulness. God drew a division between Israel and Egypt, and Paul applies that separation principle to believers today.
God had instructed Israel not to go down to Egypt, but later He told Jacob not to fear because He would make Israel a great nation there. This was God's sovereign purpose, not permission to live like the world.
Every plague was directed against one of the gods of Egypt. Les teaches that this proved their pagan worship had nothing to do with Him and that God could destroy them at will.
Watch the Teaching: Why Abram Failed in Egypt & God Restored Him | Genesis 12-14