The Egyptians were lawless. They enslaved, and treated the Hebrews as a gift to them from their gods. Then God brought the Hebrews out of captivity. This chosen people would come into obedience by His commandments, which if they disobeyed, came with consequences. These consequences would validate the need for obedience. The serpent held high was symbolic of sin's mastery over the living, separating those under law, from the Almighty.
The Law created consequence because with awareness comes judgement of the decisions made.
Before the commandments, there was lawlessness. No consequences for sin, because sin was not understood. Power and glory was considered from gods for man. But the Law brought understanding that power and glory is of God through those who denied themselves and in that obedience, acted on faith. Having faith that power would come through them by their obedience, is what made a man of Law, righteous in the eyes of God. As righteousness is of God alone.
The Law was always leading to fulfillment. It was hoped that the Law would lead to perfect understanding that could bring the presence of God among His chosen people. This is what was prophesied, and was fulfilled in our Christ. The truth of love, and the gospel of the kingdom was made known. Yet, very few under Law could accept that faith in the truth is what gives perfect knowledge of good and evil. So the will of God was shown to be for those who believe, and they have always been shown contempt.
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We see suffering in the poor. Is it God punishing them? The answer is no. He is putting the poor in front of us, to see the decisions we will make. Just like He put these Hebrews in front of the Egyptians to see their decisions. Our decisions influence our outcome in the eyes of God. God was not punishing the Hebrews. God does not punish the poor or oppressed. We all have our lot in life, and we are told to accept it. That includes the poor.
Under Law, consequences bring followers into understanding of God's righteousness. The perfect example is Job. But under the grace of the blood of Christ, those who not only believe, but carry the Holy Spirit in them; there are no consequences. This is because we are walking a path of faith in the atoning blood of the Hy Lamb of God. Righteousness works through us, because we believe in Christ's mediation.
All Judean and Muslim based peoples, are still under the Law. They consider themselves as what is righteous, because they do not recognize the Truth, or the Spirit of Truth. Instead they believe their conforming to Law on their terms, glorifies God. The consequences of their actions are they act on their belief, yet create suffering in others. They carry the understanding of 'an eye for an eye.' The end result is they are children of the devil, having placed themselves as what is righteous. They have all been given the opportunity to reconcile themselves through Christ Jesus, but have denied him.
This is only half the issue. The other half of the issue is the lawless. There is no consequence for those who do not know the Law. They are based on the notion of our animal roots, 'survival of the fittest.' They do not glorify themselves, or God, they just celebrate the world and each other. So they are not good or evil, they are not wicked or righteous. They are simply existing. And they comprise a great portion of the world today.
So we have the lawless and the self righteous, both placing themselves over others. It is only those who carry the truth, who have a light inside them; that considers others in loving, and selfless ways. And the world does not recognize us because the truth we carry forward, is not known to it. The lawless, and the self righteous, gain from their blindness. But what they gain is not only temporary, but, is also at the cost of others.
The poor as well are divided into three. The lawless poor; murder, steal, and covet for their survival. The self righteous poor, who under law, consider themselves, and are considered by others under Law, as being out of God's favor. And the poor who believe in the Truth, suffer for Christ, and carry faith into death. The poor and helpless are placed in front of us all, to see what decision we will make.
What can be done for those who God chose to suffer? The lawless see them as a burden. The self righteous see them as an example of sin, and possibly an opportunity to be merciful. Those who carry the truth forward, want them treated as they would have themselves be treated. In every case, the actions taken are meaningless, as this existence is meaningless. The suffering of the poor is not a consequence, it has a purpose under God.
If somehow the poor could all be fed by the lawless, there would be a cost that the lawless would gain from. If the poor could be fed by those under Law, they would only be separated further from God, as they would still lack the understanding that this life is meaningless to the unseen qualities of God. And for those who carry the truth forward; we must consider that the salvation of the soul is 100% the will of God.
Christian ministries that care for the poor and the helpless, are recognized by God. But this is to ease suffering, not end it. Yes, compassion and mercy are characteristics of the living God. Yes, treating others as you would have yourselves be treated is loving one another.
Fill a belly and they will get hungry again. Fill a soul, and the soul will seek what is eternal, and hunger and thirst for it. We are not here to solve world hunger. We are not here to create a world government, or a global religion. We, the faithful have one job, to believe in the one that was sent. That is the salvation that the poor deserve. That is the solution without consequence. The power of belief is what glorifies the Father through His son.
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