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The King’s Prisoners – Part 1

 

Today’s study is about the King’s prisoners. The King’s prisoners are not just an ordinary prisoner. They are the few chosen who are given freedom from their prison and an early and unexpected parole. I pray the Lord uses this study to teach us all a little more about the King’s prisoners and just what prison spiritually is. This topic may be an old hat for most of you, and it may be a gem waiting to be gleaned by the spiritual eyes the Lord may have given you, but whatever it is it will all be the Lord’s doing.

Gen 39:20  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

We are all prisoners at one time or another. We are both prisoners in death first and then in the life and service of Jesus Christ by the bonds of judgment we are to judge ourselves with now. It is our Master who puts us there, and it is our Savior who frees us from our bonds. Our bonds come varied and early on in our physical and spiritual lives, and I have personally been given the gift to see that if it be the Lord’s will we are continually given freedom over those things in our lives that so often hold us down in the valley of death, so to speak.

It is in this valley of the shadow of death that we are freed from so many bonds and given flight to the spiritual heavens “above the valley” where God’s throne is. All the while, so very few actually realize where this is taking place. I hope this study will help shine some more light on this often very dreary place but often uncelebrated glory of God. We all must be prisoners before we can know and understand what being given freedom really is, and this most blessed freedom that we can ever be given is the freedom that comes with having the mind of Christ.

Prisoners

Early in my life, I have often wondered what it must be like to be a prisoner. During those wonderings, I discovered by the Lord’s will that I already knew what being a prisoner was. I knew the stench, loneliness, hopelessness, empty, lowliness, fear and a hundred other adjectives that come with being imprisoned.

 

The most burdensome thing that I have learned about being a prisoner is that when the lot has been cast and we realize where we are, when we find we can open our eyes and only see darkness, it is then that we discover that we are where we have always been. We have been imprisoned in our own minds by our Master who has imprisoned us in this body of decay and wretched flesh. The weight of darkness is so pressing, so heavy at times, that when we have this state of mind, physical prisons are mere child’s play compared to the hopelessness that never ending darkness grasps us with and doesn’t let go. It is here that we are primed for the King’s prison.

 

The King’s Prison

 

Gen 39:20  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

 

Here we have the story of Joseph and his master Potiphar. I am sure you all know the story. Joseph was bought by Potiphar from the Ishmeelites, the Lord was with Joseph and made all that Joseph did to prosper in his hand.  Due to this, everything that Joseph touched turned to gold so to speak. It was obvious that Joseph was the guy you wanted in control and that’s just what Potiphar did. Now we see Potiphar’s wife step into the scene and she has a thing for Joseph and temps Joseph many times to lie down with her. Joseph refuses, so Potiphar’s wife frames Joseph as having tried to force himself on her. Of course, this wasn’t true but Potiphar places Joseph in prison anyways. All in all, the Lord has orchestrated this entire scenario and continues to bless Joseph even while in prison.

 

First off, we need to recognize just what happened here. Joseph was making the best of the situation, being a slave and all, and does so well in his current circumstances that he even tells Potiphars wife in Gen 39:9, “There is none greater in this house than I”. Let us look closer at this story to see what the Lord would show us this day.

 

Gen 39:7  And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

Gen 39:8  But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

Gen 39:9  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Gen 39:10  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Gen 39:11  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

Gen 39:12  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Gen 39:13  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

Gen 39:14  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

Gen 39:15  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

Gen 39:16  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

 

Let me first start off by stating that what I am about to say is only one type and shadow I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me with this story to share with the body . It is in no way the ONLY type and shadow nor does it exhaust the ample content that is contained here.

Notice first that it is our master’s wife who seduces us to lie with her. We are approached by the temptation to have all that is the Masters as Joseph tells Potiphar’s wife in verse 39:9 when Potiphar’s wife is offering herself yet again to Joseph. The fact is, the only thing the wife can give us is herself because it is the Master’s will that anything happens or not except for her being adulterous behind the scene. Here we can see the master being Christ and the adulterous wife tempting us with what is false. The same as Potiphar giving Joseph everything in his house except his wife, so Christ has given us everything EXCEPT authority over His BODY! We are simply overseers if that is indeed what we are, and Christ is the head.
We can continue to see this type in the next verses. Day by day we are tempted by what the church can offer us. It is then that we spiritually go into our master’s house to do OUR business. We think it is the Lord’s business, but it is OUR business. This very thing makes us vulnerable enough that our garment, our righteousness is able to be snared and taken by this adulterous wife.  When we are grasped and snared by the immense darkness that surrounds us it is often terrifying and very hopeless in appearance.
Once we know what has happened in this darkness, we flee, but the adulterous wife only flaunts our righteousness in front of us to use it against us later. For example, this can be seen in the attitude of, “you think you are somebody who knows something? We’ll I know who you are, sinner!” All the while, the wife is the one who is wretched, miserable, blind, poor and naked. It is amazing that this same type of attitude is displayed in this story by the wife when in verses 13 and 14 she mocks both her husband the master and the lowly “Hebrew” by saying:

 

Gen 39:13  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

Gen 39:14  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he (the husband) hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

It can also be seen in the attitude of the wife that wipes her mouth and says she has done nothing wrong!

 

Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.   

 

See, it is the adulterous wife of Potiphar who claims her honor and worth the whole time by telling a lie. To hear her tell it, she was righteous and cried out for deliverance from this “Hebrew”. She even keeps the garment by her until she can tell the Lord when he comes home. Isn’t that just how it seems to be today? The story goes on to have Potiphar place Joseph in the King’s prison.

 

This type of spiritual scenario is what leads us into the King’s prison. The Lord has worked all things after the council of his own will so that the circumstances in our lives that make us prisoners to our own flesh can be those same things that are used to chastise and teach us of a much better way of living by living in the freedom of the life of Jesus Christ once we are freed from those things that keep us in bonds.

 

What Kingly Prisoners Do

Gen 39:21  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Gen 39:22  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that [ were] in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer [ of it].

Gen 39:23  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing [ that was] under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and [ that] which he did, the LORD made [ it] to prosper.

 

Even in the King’s prison, the King’s prisoners are given dominion over the rest of the standard prisoners. This is a merciful act that we are told is what the whole plan will end up resulting in. It is through our mercy that they will be shown mercy because we have been shown mercy, but it is all because of a very powerful thing that most prisoners simply do not have.

 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

 

In reality everyone in prison is the King’ prisoner, but most don’t know it here and now. It is merciful that we are shown this amazing truth and an even deeper and meaningful level of truth is grasped in the one thing that sets us apart… the King’s prisoners who know they belong to the King and in HIS PRISON have HOPE that there is more than what their prison has to offer them. Joseph was given hope before all this happened, and that hope was rulership. There is a place of hope in the King’s prisoners to sit at the right hand of the Father, seated with Christ in heavenly places.

 

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

What sets the King’s knowledgeable and understanding prisoners apart from those who don’t have that knowledge and understanding is having the mind of Christ in which we are striving for the mark of the High calling, filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, giving repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, being as He is in this world, freeing those prisoners who he sets in our path from fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil desires and covetousness, which is all the service of idols, and that is only the beginning of the calling we have in Christ Jesus.

 

The King’s prisoners have been shown mercy that we may show others the way, truth and life that we have shining through us while being in spiritual prison. What greater calling do we have? You might be wondering where I get this all from. I get it all from the calling that has been placed upon my heart and mind as the Holy Spirit bears witness to me that the words that I read from the very Word of God are the commandments of God to love the brethren and to free them from their earthly retraints of flesh and the carnal mind and everything that goes along with it.

 

How many time do we see that those who have been given this calling are not welcomed by those that so desperately need this healing and those that are given this calling are repeatedly shamed, humiliated and killed in the name of the God in which the profess to serve?

 

Just as we saw with Potiphar’s wife, so it is with our Christian brothers and sisters in the church who actually are adulterous to the very head the claim to serve. We are all guilty, but very few are shown mercy now to see just how wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked we are without that bountiful mercy.

 

Who Prisoners Are

 

We can see this whole story play out once again in the story of Samson and his wife Delilah. Again, being only one type and shadow we can see in example the differing factor of being one of the King’s prisoners “indeed” and simply being a called, chosen but UNFAITHFUL prisoner who will face their death that way. In Jdg 16:19 through 26 we read:

 

Jdg 16:19  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

Jdg 16:20  And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Jdg 16:21  But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Jdg 16:22  Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

Jdg 16:23  Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

Jdg 16:24  And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

Jdg 16:25  And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

Jdg 16:26  And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

One similarity I find in these two stories is the fact that when the wife acts out against her true husband, she always calls out to another man who is not her rightful head. Potiphar’s wife called the men of her house and Delilah called a man to help her do the dirty work. Then we see clearly that all this was happening to Samson WHILE HE WAS ASLEEP. Of course, the first thing Samson thinks he is going to do after waking from his sleep is doing what he had always done before his sleep. Oh how wrong he is! The Lord had departed from Samson.

 

It is with this foolish attitude, after doing what we were commanded not to, that we awaken from this sleep and find that the sight we thought we had is taken from us. Samson was called and chosen in type but he was not faithful to what the Lord had commanded him to do, which was that no razor shall come on his head because he was a Nazarite from birth.

 

Even so, the Lord does remember us all and we can see this in that Samson’s hair began to grow again. Notice, that when the Philistines wanted to make sport of Samson they put him in between the pillars of the house. I wonder who the pillars are? It is these same pillars who are used to bring the victory of the Lord to those whom He will have victory over…which is the philistines in all of us! We are all both of these prisoners, but it is only the spiritual King’s prisoners who are shown mercy now and given the ability to be pillars in the house of God, those who overcome and endure to the end.

 

Affectionate Mind

 

There are many examples of these truths throughout the scriptures, and going by the example the Lord gives us from cover to cover, repetition is a good way to get the point across. I will now focus on a few of these examples in scripture to bring home the idea. I truly believe these scriptures speak volumes just by what they say spiritually, so I pray the Lord would open up all our ears to hear Him through His Word.

 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of [ his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

 

Sufferiing in the flesh is exactly what Christ did. Suffering in the flesh is turning away from those things which dominate our flesh and therefore our carnal mind. That is why we are told to arm ourselves with a different mind, the mind if Christ. We are to do this by what we are told next, “cease from sin that that we should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men”. Our time in the flesh is OUR PRISON for which we either realize God has put us here or not. We are imprisoned in this prison of flesh but we can with the mind of Christ and help of the holy spirit be freed from the mindset that keeps us focused on what is passing away as a vapor of smoke.

 

We, Lord willing are daily crucified with Christ, hanging on a the altar of the cross, bearing in our bodies the mark of Jesus Christ for if we are dead with Him we are raised with Him.

 

Act 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Act 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand [ to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 

Just a few verses before 5:30 and 31 we see this amazing spiritual truth:

 

Act 5:22  But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

Act 5:23  Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Act 5:24  Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

Act 5:25  Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

 

This story as all others are given for our admonition, teaching us that we as Peter as found to be in prison initially, closed in with no escape until the mercy and command of the Lord frees us from the MINDSET that keeps us there. When we are saught in that same prison we are NOT found as a mere MAN but we are found to be standing in the temple of God where God is at TEACHING those who are given to us to share the mind of Christ that has been given to us. This is not very well received by those who think they head the prison:

 

Act 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set [ them] before the council: and the high priest asked them,

Act 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the [ other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

Isn’t it amazing that the same thing that happened to Peter in obeying God was exactly what happened to us today when we go to “fill Jerusalem” with the doctrine of Christ. We are accused of filling Jerusalem with OUR doctrine when in truth it is commanded of God to bring our new mind, the mind of Christ, to the prisoners.

 

We see another example of the servant of the Lord being hated in like manner for simply doing the will of God and speaking plainly of it. This can be found in 2h 18 and 19 with Ahab, Jehoshaphat and the Lord’s prophet Micaiah.

 

Jehoshaphat went down to the king of Israel Ahab, and Ahab asked him to go to war with him. Jehoshaphat says my people are your people but let’s enquire of the Lord to make sure it is His will. Ahab says ok and gathers together 400 prophets who all say that it is the will of God that Jehoshaphat go to war with Ahab. Then we are given an example of making sure we have a second in witness in that Jehoshaphat asks Ahab if there are any other prophets of the Lord that may be enquired about this matter. Let’s continue from there by reading what the Word of God says in this story:

 

2h 18:4  And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

2h 18:5  Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver [ it] into the king’s hand.

2h 18:6  But Jehoshaphat said, [ Is there] not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

2h 18:7  And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [ There is] yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same [ is] Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

2h 18:8  And the king of Israel called for one [ of his] officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

2h 18:9  And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in [ their] robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

2h 18:10  And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

2h 18:11  And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [ it] into the hand of the king.

2h 18:12  And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [ declare] good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

2h 18:13  And Micaiah said, [ As] the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

 

Notice a very intriguing happening here. We have the prophets of the KING OF ISRAEL this is blessed of God, and when Micaiah is asked to speak his word he is told to say the same thing as all the other prophets, but Micaiah clearly states, “I will only speak what the Lord speaks”.  As we go on to see this:

 

2h 18:14  And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

2h 18:15  And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

2h 18:16  Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return [ therefore] every man to his house in peace.

2h 18:17  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee [ that] he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

2h 18:18  Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and [ on] his left.

2h 18:19  And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

2h 18:20  Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

2h 18:21  And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [ the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [ him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [ even] so.

2h 18:22  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

2h 18:23  Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

2h 18:24  And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

2h 18:25  Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

2h 18:26  And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [ fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

 

It is always true that those who are called, as was Ahab to be king of Israel, will hate those who are called, chosen and faithful to God. Sometimes it is something that is intentional as with king Ahab and sometimes it is not. However, it is always true that the same Israel claims that the prophets of the Lord speak only evil about and to them when in reality it is only truth that is being spoken to them as “thus sayeth the Lord”.

 

Isa 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

           

 

Conclusion

 

There is much more to be said on this topic, but the time is short and there is not much time left for this study. In part 2 we will continue to study just who we are and what we are commanded to do. Rather than speak words of men, I will let the Holy Spirit speak again that which He gave Isaiah to utter for our benefit. This can be found in Isa 42. I believe this sums up beautifully just who the King’s prisoners are spiritually, those who are commissioned and know they are commissioned to, “what my God saith, that will I speak”. When reading and hearing these verses remember it is Christ in the old testament that speaks about himself and the elect who are His:

 

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [ in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isa 42:2  He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

Isa 42:3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Isa 42:4  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Isa 42:5  Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Isa 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 42:7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [ and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isa 42:8  I [ am] the LORD: that [ is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isa 42:9  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isa 42:10  Sing unto the LORD a new song, [ and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

Isa 42:11  Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [ their voice], the villages [ that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Isa 42:12  Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 

Isa 42:13  The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

Isa 42:14  I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [ and] refrained myself: [ now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

Isa 42:15  I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

Isa 42:16  And I will bring the blind by a way [ that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [ that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Isa 42:17  They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [ are] our gods.

Isa 42:18  Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

Isa 42:19  Who [ is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [ that] I sent? who [ is] blind as [ he that is] perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant?

Isa 42:20  Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

Isa 42:21  The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make [ it] honourable.

Isa 42:22  But this [ is] a people robbed and spoiled; [ they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

Isa 42:23  Who among you will give ear to this? [ who] will hearken and hear for the time to come?

Isa 42:24  Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

Isa 42:25  Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [ it] not to heart.

 

The Lord has told us what to expect as His servants before they have sprang forth. Let us run the race faithfully.