Exodus 12:1-13; 13:1-8
The time between Exodus 1 and 12 is more than 80 years. The people of Israel were groaning under the burden of their taskmasters. Their cries were heard by God. There was the hope in this special child that was taken from the Nile River by the princess. But the slavery continued. When Moses was 40, he thought he could do something to deliver his people, but he failed miserably. And the oppression continued. At age 80, Moses returned with the word of the Lord to “Let my people go!” Then things even got worse. Nine plagues had to be endured, and so did the harshness of the taskmasters.
Sometimes we feel God is not working because it does not meet our schedule. As we look around, we see our troubles, our anxieties, our problems, yet so often fail to see God’s working behind the scenes to bring about his deliverance.
God delivers Israel with a mighty hand from the Egyptians. This deliverance changes everything. It also means going into the desert. Our expectations are often very different than the reality of God’s deliverance. Ultimately God’s promise of “a land flowing with milk and honey” is fulfilled, but in God’s own way and for God’s own purposes.
Pastor Greg
