Introduction
We cannot live quietly on a simple day in the realm of crypto without noises and turbulence. The market is boring and flat lately, but we have a lot of action with the SEC!
Their purpose and mission is to protect customers' money. In reality, now they are attacking crypto companies without clarity. It is wrongdoing what they are trying to accomplish personally.
Crypto companies beg for years for clear regulations in the crypto sector. You see the EU, have some advance with the MICA framework.
Better to have something than nothing!
Binance vs SEC
The modus operandi is always the same as the SEC behavior. Binance keeps doing business as usual and received a letter stipulating what they have done wrong.
Some crypto traded on their platform from the SEC perspective are considered securities. It is not clear what is the real definition of security for crypto with the regulations that exist today.
We need to have a new and clear framework in place for cryptoassets like tokens, NFTs, etc... You cannot interpret the way you think is right and attack without any notice crypto companies that want to be legit.
Those companies bring innovation with a lot of value for crypto investors. They provide a way for people to purchase, sell, and build wealth easily without the need to think too much.
It is already a difficult ecosystem to master for a typical investor who just wants to have a presence in the crypto realm...
Immediate consequences of this attack from the SEC
From the headlines I check rapidly in the last 24 hours, 700 million was removed from the Binance liquidity. This reaction is people are scared of not being able to access their funds in the worst-case scenario.
What people have not learned!
You just leave crypto assets that intend you to trade. Not assets that you keep for the long term. It is not the first or last behavior like this we are going to expect.
Bitcoin has crashed from this market sentiment. When BTC is in the red, the rest of the market follows the pattern!
We love the volatility!
If you can't handle it, you are in the wrong market...
What to expect next?
This is a legal battle that can take years before something can materialize. Those legal fees from the government are paid with people's taxes...
In the case of Binance, I believe you can reduce the legal fees from your business expense. But I am not quite sure...
This is very costly for a company to battle because you need to hire the best layers. You need to fight with the interpretation of words and laws in place.
The results are years of energy spending, stress, and suffering for the crypto industry.
The US seems to fight for innovation in its territory and make sure crypto is moving to other international jurisdictions.
My perspective
I believe is not good for the whole industry's constant attacks from the SEC entity. No matter what they are trying it will not change the path of crypto penetration and prosperity.
People understand the risk of crypto and if they intend to purchase them. They know the risks and rewards associated with it.
I hope this battle will not last years and both parties can find a fast settlement.
PS: It is my personal opinion and I am not a financial advisor. Always do your own research.

Exploring the Overberg 🏼
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If you've been following us for a while, you know that we are always trying to find a different route when driving from point A to B.
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Add some time on your next trip and take the road less traveled. You will be surprised what you find out there. 🏼
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Safe travels. 🏼
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#travelphotography #travel #travelpics #exploretheworld #africa #overlanding #travellifestyle #toyota #landcruiser

Greetings bosses and welcome to my post.

It's actually beautiful to see two different strangers who come together to share one idea, belief, and thought. Two people coming together to build each other is not easy, and it's filled with ups and downs.
[Img src](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-transsion-tecno-rev1&sxsrf=APwXEdfz4hFsSqiY_Jt3u2NdHz-lZj5WdQ:1685995397993&q=i+do&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjp-6im9qz_AhVxm1wKHetsDzYQ0pQJegQIBxAB&biw=360&bih=692&dpr=2#imgrc=CHFKW4tbLJzk7M)

Marriage is a beautiful stress on its own, and the way both couples handle this beautiful stress is the determinant of the product they will bring forth in the nearest future.

I am not the best person to talk about marriage because I have not yet gotten married, but for the sake of the article, I will share my thoughts about knowledge from a single guys perspective.

*Let's dig in shall we?*

I thoughts about marriage is that - marriage is a beautiful tool that can be used to give birth to life and death. The determinant of the positive or negative product of marriage is dependent on both spouses, in the fact that both needs to play their role appropriately without any problems. The wife should be a "wife" and not try to overshadow the husband, and the husband should also be a husband, but also, assist the woman in some petty ways.

Marriage is can give birth to death in the sense that if the spouse are no tamed together very well, it could lead to death of either spouse as a result of domestic violence and it can also breed the children with or without good health, but in an unfavorable environment (due to the parents irresponsible attitudes) and as such, the child will have a bad first agent of socialization, leading to a very bad future for that child..

*Checking the audience..... Hope you love what you're reading?*

*Let's continue*

Marriage could bring about life if the spouses are properly tamed before going into marriage. A responsible home filled with love, care and minimal responsible quarrels between parents, and descipline, will bring about "life." The home will be happy and the children? They will grow up to be Bright and have a good future because they have a good first agent of socialization.

I think that marriage is the foundation of the betterment of the society or community, a good marriage will bring forth a bright society but a bad one? Well, it'll bring the opposite.

*Hope you are enjoying the write up? You should give me a follow if you find it interesting*

As said earlier, I am not yet married but from the married people around me here in Nigeria, Marriage is a No No. I don't know if they are forced to get married to be honest. The children here learn most of their things from their peer groups and they put it out to he society. That's why you see smokers, rapist, people who do drugs and other unlawful and irresponsible act. But, when I see people from outside the country, mostly Canada, California (mainly Europe) I always feel like marrying but not from my country. I know I cannot marry from outside my country as an Igbo Nigerian person, and as such, I will just have to perfect the person I want to end up with, teach her my ways and learn to accommodate some of her ways too.

Marriage is really worth the troubles.. YES it does. Irrespective of the ups and downs, it's really worth it because the next generation is on the hands of the current generation and if the current generation set the right pace, the next will lead a good life in respect to what they learnt from their good parents.

I am not married yet and please correct me anywhere you think I said something that is not correct.

Thank you boss for stopping by my post, I really appreciate you..

I hope to see you next time boss.

Ramen soup take two. People liked it. This time with bacon and ginger. Honestly l am not so much of a rule follower, just use what l find when l cook.

Greetings bosses and welcome to my post.

The world could be a cruel place to be in and it could also be a beautiful place as well as a stressful place. What the world is to you is dependent on the hard and smart work you put into your path of financial vindication.

This post is based on a true life story, and I want to use this medium to motivate everyone out there who think that life is worst to them.

Life is really cruel and heartless to me, but in all, we move forward never to go back wards. I believe that giving up isn't an option because all other works will be a waste if I give up now.

**THE STORY**

Nwothini was born to a great family of 4 with him being the second son, while having an eldest sister and two other brothers.

Growing up, things began to go north and I had to fend for myself from a very young age. I was around 6-8 years old when I first made my 2 thousand Naira with hard work. Back then, 2 thousand Naira is like 6 thousand Naira now, and I was paid this money on a weekly basis.

I worked with a wholesale shop. I was the short distance transporter then and my boss transported long distance. At times I do follow him for long distance transportation while his wife was the accountant. Back then, I do use a wheel barrow for short distance transportation and it was really stressful.

I worked for sometime after which I quit because of the stress and my body was too young to keep up with that stress.

After some time, when I was around 9 - 10 years of age, I got another job where I was paid the same amount.

I worked with a man who bakes meat roll, egg role, fish roll, burger and many things. (He taught me this skill which I've forgotten now though) and still paid me cause the work load was much. After I finished baking with him, the suppliers will carry it on their show glass and hawk it around.

I got feeding from there a x I didn't have to spend much money because after everything, I will save some, and bring some home to add to the feeding money for my family.

Dad left when I was born, so it was just mom and she refused to remarry.

I thought I had found vindication from my current work, because I was able to support my family financially but life had a very interesting path for me.

I wouldn't say we were poor, but middle class because everyone strived hard to make sure that we survived.

After some years of working there and schooling at the same time, mom said we had to relocate to the east (imo state Nigeria) which we did, but I was really pained because I was making a living and I was really happy with my current work.

We relocated to the east thinking that the path will be better, not knowing that things was about to get really bad. After much struggles, I couldn't bare it no more, so I had to look for something to do.

That was when I started going for laborer job. I mixed cement for a brick layer at the age of 16 and I did it for some time and still doing it till date.. yes even as a Nursing student.

After all the ups ad downs, I managed to graduate from secondary school with a good grade which still surprises me up till date, and that was when I decided to do nursing.

My nursing career is as a result of what life has thrown to me and I really don't want nobody to face such. I'm just summarizing things here to be honest.

I started my nursing career few years ago and it has been filled with ups and downs. We had a hangout in hive learners community last Monday and I told them I nearly committed suicide at one stage of life, but seeing why I started, looking at the people that are with me, and looking at tons of people out there I will help via charity, I decided to keep living.

Currently, I am a man of many talents.


At my current age, I do go for carpentry works,

I carry blocks for a block company,

I manage my provision store which I opened with the money gotten from the little jobs I do,

I still know how to fix wires (electrician)


I know how to sew (tailoring)

And I am still a blogger and crypto spot trader.
If someone told you that I do these things, will you believe? NO. I do anything for money except illegal things.

I do anything that could get money and all these money I forward to my schooling.. yes.. when I started hive newly, I removed the money I got due to school problems, and even in Steemit (I was an author there too... My username is @ delightharris), I had to power down and channel the money into my school.

Currently I am owing a 125,000 Naira but I'm just hoping and working hard towards it. I believe in my hard and smart works and I believe in my creator to give me strength... What don't kill me will always make me stronger in life, and this, I will accomplish and get my license to practice, then impact the world positively.

**THE MOTIVATION**

One things I've come to learn in life is that, if you're like a Christian that prays for God to do everything for you, my dear you'll perish. I believe that God has given us "dominion." In genesis he said "and let them have dominion." This implies that I have the power to do things, I have the authority to command things to work for me, but all these I could achieve through hard and smart work, including determination, self control, positive spirituality, loyalty, humility, as well as good vibes.

I am a student nurse currently who is in his Final years, and my dream of charity is about to be accomplished by Grace.

So what is holding you? If I could realize myself at age 6 and get out of my comfort zone to work, what about you? Yes two people ain't the same, but you're better than a 6 year old.

Irrespective of what life is throwing at us, we should be strong enough to fight head on with it. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger and, and if I die trying, it's better for me than to lead a miserable and poor life.

If you feel like crying in the process, shout out loud and cry your heart out.. if you feel angry and annoyed, look at your reflexion in a mirror and ask yourself, what is wrong and how I'm I going to solve this problem.. if you feel like giving up, remind yourself why you started and the people who are hoping that you make it in life, and when you reach your dreams, **put in kindness to the world,** help the needy, and tell them to help other persons and by so doing, the world will be a better place.

The change you seek begins from you.

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate you stopping by, and all the support I have been getting.

I love you all.

Source
It's another Lovely Monday morning from my end here and I trust that every hiver is doing great. Special thanks to all of us that have been consistent in dropping our thoughts in this weekly engagement.
This is my entry in response to week 65 edition 1 engagement which I tagged my perception on marriage.
It's apparent that marriage isn't a new word neither a new thing but what has been seen and taught in different strata. Follow as I share my own understanding and other things on marriage.
What's marriage?
Marriage can be seen as a union between a man and a woman with the purpose of fulfilment of life's goals. Marriage is the coming together of a man and a woman for companionship, procreation, and achieving greater, more and better results. The definition of marriage is enormous and has been given different perspective.
My thought on marriage.
Marriage is for a matured man and woman who have realised their pursuit of life's goals and would want to partner together to live as one which is also known as husband and wife. Marriage is not meant for children simply because there are many hurdles in the course of the journey that's why one must prepare himself or herself adequately before entering into it. The maturity here involves the capacity to endure, take critical decisions and implementation, have high tolerant level, perseverance,patience and broad heart of love to condone any form of mistakes.
As a married man, there are certain things I thought of that is not the exact of what I see in the marriage. So also there are things I never thought of but suddenly they became a reality as a result of the marriage. Some of the differential factors I can figure out includes;

When your marriage is cross cultural then it requires some ample time for some things to take shape because of the differences in background. Perhaps how things are done in her place might not be same as how it's obtainable in your place. This discrepancy can either build or mare the entire marriage.
Sometimes the unmarried think that things will automatically turn out good immediately they get married but is not like that. Don't make any costly assumption about anything.
What has being married taught me?
Hmmm this question is very interesting because as far as I am concerned, is one of the peak of marriage. Any marriage that you can't deduce lessons and no change that means something might be wrong somewhere.
A lot has changed about myself which I would like to highlight some this;
I use to find it difficult to share some vital things I hold with high esteem for myself but the marriage made me learned that whatever I have is for everyone. Therefore I have been transformed in the aspect of giving out gifts etc to people.
Being married has taught me to build emotional balance and intelligence due to the exposure I received to the life's challenges and most importantly from the children.
Marriage has open my eyes to see the good , bad and ugly side of life which brings out the real maturity in me.
Marriage is a training institution though a life long affair based on my religion which keeps trainee always on check as hurdles unveils itself. Certain habits that is not correct has been transformed due to marriage.
I believe no matter the achievement or accomplishment of one man or individual can't be compared to the output of two people that are united together. Therefore marriage enables a man to achieve more.
Marriage also creates or betters the vision and goal of an individual. At times you may not understand the clear cut of your assignment but when you get married, everything will be unveiled as you continue to journey. Personally my dreams have become 70% reality already because of marriage.

CONCLUSION
Don't marry because of what you can see now but marry vision which could later translate into broad reality. I'm a testimonial to this however I am hopeful for more blessings.
thanks for visiting my blog and all the comments appreciated.

Since the day I joined Hive, I've learned a lot of new stuff. That was in August 2021. I was startled to read taskmaster4450's article about the exponential age because I had never seen such a viewpoint before. It appears as though the author is from another planet.
Then, from August 2021 to February 2022, I wandered around Hive without realizing the fantastic possibility that this emerging blockchain was offering. Things didn't start making sense until March 2022.
Beginning that month, my learning process on Hive has increased significantly. You know learning and applying new ideas isn’t easy, especially for an aging man like me. They say it’s really difficult to teach an old dog new tricks.
Nevertheless, I had several first-time experiences since that month. I think that’s the first and major transition that shaped the way how I grew in my understanding of Hive.
Participating in LEO Power Up Day (LPUD), buying CUB, joining listnerds.com and @bradleyarrow’s curation trail, and writing about CENT are the new things I learned since that month. That was one year and three months ago.
The LeoThreads widespread adoption effort launched on May 1 is at a different stage of development from the growth I mentioned above. The image that comes to mind is a price increase brought on by a significant trend.
[Photo Credit
](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-person-holding-smartphone-6802042/)
My Hive activity has undergone a significant transformation after the release of LeoThreads on https://leofinance.io/ version 2 (Note: I am at a loss for words to characterize the current condition of LeoFinance). The first thing I now do every day is check the threads. Before, it wasn't like this. Naturally, there are drawbacks to this, such as a tendency to overlook important Hive events like HIVE Power Up Day and writing lengthy content.
Before the launch of LeoThreads, I have been describing myself as a “treader” though I didn’t make an official announcement about it on social media. My definition of a treader is inspired by a combination of three ideas: walking cautiously, trading, and reading. For non-native English speakers, these two words: “treader” and “threader” might sound the same.
The latter refers to microblogging and I love it because its content is not confined to a single category; it is open to all types of content. As such, threads make engagement spontaneous and online learning more easily digestible.
Reasons Why I am Bullish on LEO
Serving as an alternative to a centralized microblogging platform like Twitter is a good start but not enough.
The 10,000 USD prize pool that will be distributed within five days from now somehow made the Leo community excited. However, such excitement is short-term if not matched with a long-term vision of the growth and sustainability of the Leo projects.
Except for the above reasons I mentioned such as microblogging providing an avenue for instant conversation and digestible content, as a Web3 alternative, and the 10,000 USD incentive, the additional reasons why I am bullish on LEO are as follows:
Last 05 May, I wrote what I believe to be the benefits of making threads. I mentioned there how I agreed with this idea that the bigger transactions on the chain work to the advantage of the Hive network, the Leo tribe, and our tokens.
Another reason is related to ad revenue. If the income from advertising will be returned to the LEO token, in such a scenario, all LEO holders win.
A third reason would be LeoThreads operating as a communication hub for all the tribes within the Hive network. As such, threads can be an avenue for your content to find a wider audience.
Still, another reason is the potential for micro-earnings. We cannot underestimate the power of small things. All big changes in one way or another started with small steps.
Closely connected to crypto earning, I think if the recent idea suggested by @taskmaster4450 about the collateralization of the LEO assets will be considered for implementation, we have a solid reason to be exceedingly excited about the future of our platform. Given the fact that the world is in bad need of quality collateral as TM repeatedly argues, I think the LeoFinance can enter that space to fill up such a demand.
Above all, I enjoy the fun of threading in connecting to other Hivers, lions, and other tribes. To conclude this post, I agree with @meitanteikudo’s poetical description of threads:

a joyful playground, a joyous meeting where everyone’s voice is heard, a friendly tour guide, a vibrant marketplace of perspectives, and even radiant stars that shine brightly in the LeoFinance galaxy.

Grace and peace!
What is LeoFinance?
What is Hive?

Image Source
Splinterlands is a popular blockchain-based collectible card game (CCG) that has its own native cryptocurrency called Splinterlands Token (SPT). The game offers numerous opportunities for players, investors, and content creators alike. Here are some key opportunities associated with Splinterlands (SPT) cryptocurrency:
Gameplay Rewards: Splinterlands provides an opportunity for players to earn SPT tokens through gameplay. Players can participate in ranked battles and tournaments, complete quests, and earn rewards based on their performance. These rewards can be in the form of SPT tokens, which players can then utilize within the game or trade on various cryptocurrency exchanges.
Play-to-Earn Model: Splinterlands follows a play-to-earn model, which means players can earn a significant income by playing the game regularly. Skilled players can compete in the ranked battles and tournaments to win rewards, including SPT tokens. This allows players to monetize their gaming skills and dedication to the game.
Token Utility: SPT tokens have multiple utilities within the Splinterlands ecosystem. They can be used to purchase new card packs, access special events, participate in tournaments, and upgrade existing cards. The demand for SPT tokens increases as the player base grows, thereby potentially increasing the value of the cryptocurrency.
Trading and Investment: Splinterlands has its own marketplace where players can buy, sell, and trade cards using SPT tokens. Players who have acquired valuable and rare cards can sell them for a profit, thereby creating an opportunity for trading and investment. Additionally, as the game gains popularity and the player base expands, the value of certain cards may increase, presenting investment opportunities for collectors and traders.
Content Creation and Streaming: Splinterlands has a vibrant community of content creators and streamers who produce gameplay videos, tutorials, and strategy guides. These creators can monetize their content by receiving tips and donations in SPT tokens. As the game continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for engaging and informative content, creating opportunities for content creators to establish themselves and earn income through their creations.
Blockchain Benefits: Splinterlands operates on the Hive blockchain, which provides transparency, security, and ownership of in-game assets. The blockchain ensures that the scarcity and uniqueness of digital cards are maintained, preventing duplication or fraud. This opens up opportunities for players and investors to securely own and trade digital assets without relying on centralized platforms.
Community Governance: Splinterlands has a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) called the Splinterlands Governance Body (SGB). SPT token holders have the opportunity to participate in the governance process by voting on proposals and decisions related to the game's development, new features, and rules. This allows token holders to have a say in the future direction of the game.
It's important to note that cryptocurrency investments involve risks, and the value of SPT tokens can fluctuate. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct thorough research and due diligence before participating in any opportunities related to Splinterlands (SPT) cryptocurrency.
Posted using Splintertalk

Good morning!
Habits are really important, they mark the future and what we are. Follow the plan.

"“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ―Aristotle

Choosing a positive attitude & being grateful is going to determine how you are going to live your life.

Image by my dear friend Dr Jess Derby


#someeofficial
#hive
#positivevibes
#breathe
#followyourbliss
#authenticity
#lovelife

[Source](https://unsplash.com/photos/376KN_ISplE)

Greetings to all the members of the community and beyond am glad to be among you this time. I have heard so much about the community,now I decided to come add my voice here.

The topic for discussion this time is very interesting. Everyone in life do have one thing or the other they are looking forward to achieving, a man without vision will follow every shadow as shadow most times are deceptive. So *Achievement* is as a result of resilient pursuit of vision. In pursuing vision distractions may set in but the ability not to allow the distractions for too long will help one reach his destination on time.

To the question, *what I do when I achieve a thing*. Am not a kind of person that throws party at a slittest achievement. A times when I achieve a thing especially those that gave me much concern I get so happy and I do well to share with my friends and family for them to rejoice and with me also. Immediately when am down celebrating,I get to think of the next target to set for myself. Setting this targets helps me to make the best use of every opportunity and at the time am not counter as someone that wants the.

As the new week is starting I already have a set goal for myself, I will celebrate my achievement with my spouse by the end of this new week.

Hope I have done Justice to the topic so far, am glad you visited my blog. See you next time.

I was beaned on Facebook by a red dog! and it’s not convenient for me to repent like that. Follow my hate bitch Berg nothing will happen!!!! A red dog will be a beggar, I'm talking about Facebook)))

sorry for my english, i'm just learning))

Do you struggle with constant self-doubt? Try this...
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So really quick, do you have any of the following problems?
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● Low confidence, self-esteem or feeling like an imposter?
● Doubt and hesitation when making important business decisions
● Constant feelings of fear and anxiety
● Negative and self-limiting thoughts, or...
● Achieving success but feeling unfulfilled?
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Source
I will start by saying and will keep saying that ecency and hive have been a huge blessing to me in different ways.

Well this post is not all about the benefits and the juicy parts of ecency and hive.
Because this week's Topic on ecency Star weekly writing contest is all about....

What I dislike in Ecency/Hive
Tell us what you don't like in Ecency/Hive, or what kind of difficulties you face while using Ecency/Hive.

So, I will be writing more on the recent difficulties I have encountered while using Ecency App.
Ecency App happens to be my best so far.
The things are as follows :

I can't easily copy and paste any part of someone's post or comment to quote while replying or making a post.
Which wasn't like this when I was using the app months ago.

Username suggestions doesn't pop out to select or choose from as usual, when you are replying to a post or making your own post.

I usually make use of ecency points to boost my post or someone's else post, but lately it is usually returned.
So I have lots of ecency points which I don't know it's use.
Before ecency points was really a very much valuable thing for me, like I work so hard to earn ecency points.
But now it doesn't really mean much to me.

This is my participation to Ecency Star writing contest for this week.
Check out this post, if you wish to join
Remember to read the rules and have fun while writing.
Thank you very much for stopping by my blog.

Dividers made by @thepeakstudio

[Photo Credit](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photography-travel-church-monument-16012186/)
Waking up this Saturday morning, I didn’t expect that my Bible story about financial freedom will be upvoted by the curators on Hive, LeoFinance, and other front ends, and particularly @leo.voter. Consequently, I got motivated to continue this morning with the third part of this series on The Way to Financial Freedom. I also intend to submit this present article to the Zealy campaign to complete The Writer Quest under Weekly Side Quests.
Before I proceed, let me just share with you the first two articles I published in this series to provide a sense of continuity. I consider this important to consider the specific context I have in mind to avoid possible misconceptions:


The Way to Financial Freedom Part 1


The Way to Financial Freedom Part 2


After providing the links above to my previous article, I now feel at ease to resume the second part of our content in this story taken from the Old Testament. This time, I want to share an overview of three basic principles taken from Exodus Chapter 1 about the evil of tyranny and oppression.
Three Basic Principles
Political oppression is a result of ignorance, vs. 1 -8.
To apply this insight to our time is unthinkable for our generation prides itself on living in The Information Age. But the kind of ignorance I am referring to based on our story is not the lack of technical or professional information, but the absence of historical knowledge. As the popular saying goes, “Ignorance of the past is bound to repeat its mistake.” And this is the kind of ignorance that we see here.
For your information, there is a long time gap between the closing of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and the opening of the second book, Exodus. During that interval, Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died. And at the same time, Genesis concluded with a moderate size of Israel prospering in Egypt while Exodus starts with a nation-sized Israel suffering slavery in Egypt. And the primary cause of this slavery was ignorance of the past. Particularly, it was ignorance of Joseph and how his God saved Egypt and made its name great. Such ignorance resulted in a risky decision that would endanger the future of the nation. Pharaoh committed not only an erroneous economic decision by enslaving productive people but also placed Egypt in great danger by challenging the God of Israel.
Notice here is the difference between the Pharaoh of Joseph's time and the Pharaoh of Moses' time. Both were kings, but their response to the God of Israel was different. In the case of the Pharaoh of Joseph's day, he acknowledged Joseph's access to accurate secret knowledge, and he honored him and his family, granting Joseph power and authority over Egypt. That Pharaoh bowed down to God's sovereignty and God's word. As a result, God blessed his kingdom.
In contrast, the Pharaoh of Moses' time was ignorant of Joseph and his deeds and oppressed the Israelites with forced labor. Such a mistake was both an economic disaster and a direct challenge to the God of Israel.
We see in this story that ignorance of the past is a very dangerous thing. Many people, particularly policymakers, ignore not only the lessons of the past but also the applicability of God's law in our time. As a result of this kind of ignorance, the world now is in a serious crisis. And instead of returning to God and his law and sound economic practice, civil governments continue to despise either knowing or unknowingly the law of God in their destructive monetary and public policies.
Take for instance the zero-interest rate policy (ZIRP) and negative interest rate policy (NIRP). Such policies were not only punishing the savers but robbing the people of their savings. These policies discourage saving and promote borrowing. As King Solomon said, "The borrower is a slave to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7). And so, debt is a form of slavery and it is very popular in our time. Today, the entire global economy is operating based on debt. Nations, corporations, and families are immersed in debt. Debt is the modern version of ancient oppression and slavery.
I think not until our generation will return to the serious study of God's law and apply it to our time, we cannot escape the present crisis. I also believe that the study and application of God's law must first start with Christian families and Christian churches. Through the witness of the Christian Church, society will be changed.
Oppression is promoted through popular political speech, vs. 9-14.
Pharaoh said, "Look, the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." Something is wrong with this political speech. The King didn't like the Israelites, particularly their growing number. The King was afraid that the Jews might join their enemies and leave the country. And so, to prevent the dangers caused by population growth, war threat, and massive exodus, Pharaoh came up with a solution: slavery.
This is wrong because the Israelites came to Egypt a generation ago as free people. Egypt has been blessed economically through the productivity of the Jews. By making them slaves, Pharaoh was depriving them of their basic human right, to live free. And not only that, Pharaoh expected the Jews to remain productive to contribute to the national economy under tyrannical rule. Pharaoh wanted economic growth despite his violation of God's law. Such public policy would certainly end in disaster.
All the human capital of the Jews was focused to serve Pharaoh's end. It was such a great waste of human capital. Like Pharaoh, many socialists in the past such as Hitler, Mao Zedong, Lenin, and Stalin committed great mistakes by wasting both the lives and the resources of their people under tyrannical rule. Many central planners these days ignore the lessons of the past and they keep repeating the mistakes of the past. These modern versions of tyranny are wasteful and ultimately self-destructive.
Again, as God's people, we must know what the law of God says about these things. Without such knowledge, we will unknowingly embrace ideas that are in reality disastrous not only to us and the society at large but also to the next generation. Only the law of God can give us the wisdom to discern whether a political speech is consistent with the teachings of the Bible or not.
Oppression is justified through unjust laws, vs. 15 – 22.
Pharaoh thought that by oppressing the Jews, their number would decrease. But the Bible said, "The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so, the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites." Realizing that his original plan failed, Pharaoh came up with another evil plan: to kill the Jewish boy infants. However, the midwives feared God and did not obey what the King told them. This is an example of civil disobedience against a tyrannical law. And so, Pharaoh made a wicked law: throw every boy that is born into the Nile. The law has been weaponized to kill infants. Yes, legislators no longer make laws with the outright intent of killing people, but they are done nevertheless in a more subtle way. A scrutiny of many laws in our time, and you will see how destructive they are to life, freedom, and property.
Here, political leaders make laws to justify their tyranny and oppression. The order of Pharaoh was legal as far as Egyptian law is concerned. Without the law of God, there is no way we can say whether such a law is just or not. Nations' laws are under God's law. If political leaders are making laws against the law of God, we as Christians should follow what the Hebrew midwives did. In the New Testament, Peter said, "We must obey God rather than men!" Many politicians these days think that the law of God has nothing to say about public policy, and so they make laws and policies, which are contrary to God's law. Popular examples of these include abortion, same-sex marriage, and the current monetary system. In the eyes of God, these are murder, immorality, and theft. By making these kinds of laws, civil governments have made sins legal.
And so, we see that Exodus chapter 1 teaches us that ignorance of the past results in oppression, popular political speech promotes oppression, and unjust laws justify oppression. This type of oppression did not stop in Moses' time. The spirit of the Pharaoh of Moses’ time still lives especially in a time of crisis where we live right now.
When governments and politicians ignore the law of God and make humanistic laws and economic decisions, nations suffer from a new kind of slavery. Yes, by knowing the truth that is in Jesus, we are now set free from the power of sin, including legal plunder. And one of its most subtle forms is the existing monetary system of fiat currency. To explain the character and nature of fiat currency would require longer elaboration, which is impossible for us to achieve in this short article. What I intend to do is to offer you a way to understand our current situation for you to find a way out of financial slavery. And there is no better way to do that than to understand what is currently happening in the world of finance and technology. And that will be the topic for the next three articles.
Grace and peace!
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