Egypt #3
“The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children…Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.” (Exodus 12:37, 40)
The Israelites were in Egypt a long time. They came to Egypt as a family of 70 people (Genesis 46:27). Joseph was second to Pharaoh in the land and they were treated well. They settled in the fertile part of Egypt called Goshen. After the death of Joseph a new Pharaoh in Egypt came to power and turned the tables. The people of Israel were made slaves and treated “ruthlessly” by those in power for the next 400 years or so.
We learn in Exodus 2:23 that Israel cried out to God because of their slavery and God heard their groaning. That brings us to Moses and the great deliverance story we have been looking at. The question could be asked, “Why did it take God 400 years to answer the call from Israel?” “Why does God seem to take His time when answering certain requests?” For some of us 4 days seems like 400 years when we put in a call for help. Emergency response time is measured by minutes not centuries.
There may be several answers in this case. In Exodus 2 it could imply that, as miserable as they were, Israel hadn’t called upon God until this time. A last resort, so to speak. After all, that is true for many of us unfortunately. Asking for help from the One who created us is, unfortunately, not our first thought. Even our hero, Moses, early in his life relied on his own strength and position to defend his people. It took 40 years as a shepherd to get him to turn to God.
What was God doing during the 400 years of oppression? He was there and working to grow and prepare His people despite their lack of attention. The first chapter of Exodus tells us that the more they were oppressed the more they would multiply. From a family of 70 to a people of more than a million. God was building a nation. They didn’t know it. The Egyptians suspected something. God had a plan.
In trouble? Got a problem? Dealing with an issue? First, don’t wait till you hit rock bottom to call out to Him. He does hear you. Second, if He doesn’t answer right away He has a plan. He is building something bigger in you!
Blessings!
