The Israelites travels a whole three days after they witnessed the Egyptian army destroyed before their complaining began. They weren’t traveling where water was plentiful. After three days they began asking Moses what they were to drink.  The water they did find was very bitter. God tells Moses to take a log and throw it into the water. Instantly, it was made clean.

They soon had something else to complain about, food. It took no time at all for them to start comparing the wilderness with Egypt. Of course, Egypt suddenly look heavenly. God hears their complaining. He informs Moses that He will send them meat to eat. That evening the camp is filled with Quail. The following morning, after the dew has dried, a white flake-like bread covered the ground, they called it Manna. Each was to gather enough for the day. In the morning a fresh supply would be there.  Those who did not obey and took more than one day’s worth, found the manna full of worms the next morning.

For forty years they ate the manna. For forty years it sustained them. For forty years they complained.

Exodus 16

As for sickness, God gave them this promise:

“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”      (Exodus 15:26 ESV)

Even with all these signs, they still could not or maybe they would not believe. It would be so interesting to know what their journey through the wilderness and for that matter through life would have been like if they had been able to trust the God that set them free. If they understood His love for them. If they knew that He had their best interest in mind.

Again, I have to bring it back to my life, to our lives…what would they be like if we could simply believe that He has our best interest in mind. That He loves us unconditionally. All that is required is our trust in His faithfulness.

God did not allow the Israelites to go the easy way; He knew that it would require a battle with the Philistines. He also knew that when faced with such a battle, they would run scared and return to Egypt.  The Bible actually says that when they left Egypt they were equipped for battle. How often are we equipped for battle, yet run when we are faced with the challenge.  God led them during the day by a great cloud and at night by a pillar of fire.

God leads them in such a way that the King of Egypt believes they are wandering around. He and his army go out to recapture the Israelites. As the chariots are approaching, the Israelites find themselves stuck between the Red Sea and the approaching army. We’ve all watched the scene from the Ten Commandments when Moses raises his arms and the waters part. Not sure if that’s exactly how it happened, but it makes it memorable. The recently freed Israelites walk on dry ground. As the army follows the same path, God releases the water and the army is drowned.  The Egyptians had handed over their gold and silver prior to the Israelites leaving. When they left, Egypt lost its work force. When the King decided to go after them, Egypt lost their ruler and their army.

I’ve heard this story a hundred times. It’s always focused on the complaining the Israelites did. That is an issue, but not the only story. Here’s what I have begun to see:

1. God led them the long way to avoid a battle.
2. God led them in a way that made others think they were lost.
3. He did it all to prove to them and Egypt that He is God.

What did I learn:

1. The long way may be easier for me and much more successful. It may also be chosen because I’m too afraid.
2. It doesn’t matter what others think about my journey, it’s mine.
3. God does amazing things to prove to us that He is God, we are the ones not looking.

Exodus 13-15

Passover is a very visual word. It describes what happened to those Israelites who listened to God’s warning and instruction and were PASSED OVER by the Angel of Death.  The Egyptians were not so lucky. Luck had nothing to do with it. They didn’t listen. They didn’t obey. Consequences happened. God always does what He says He will do.

As the Egyptians were awakened in the middle of the night by the great cry, the king had a change of heart. The king told Moses to take the people of Israel, their flocks and herds and leave. He added one great request, “Bless me also!” The king finally saw Who he was dealing with. The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them away. Some grabbed the dough before it was leavened, and bundled their kneading bowls in their cloaks. This is the unleavened bread that is eaten at Passover.

Think back for a moment. God had already destroyed most of Egypt by the plagues. The livestock, the vegetation and the land itself. Now the firstborn of every household and of all the cattle were gone. The Egyptians had freely turned over a large portion of their gold, silver and clothing. God had told Moses at the start of this journey that the Israelites would plunder the Egyptians. As the last Israelite left Egypt, it was clear that the land was plundered and now the work force was missing.       Plundering doesn’t always require a battle. It just requires obedience.

Exodus 12

God tells Moses that there will be one more plague and after this final one, the king will set you free -  AND when he does, the king will drive you away completely. As always, God gives sufficient instruction and warning. The first instruction was to the Israelites. They were to ask the Egyptians for gold, silver and clothing. They obeyed, God showed favor on them and the Egyptians handed over gold, silver and clothing.

Moses relays the warning to the king. “At midnight every firstborn in the land shall die, from the king’s house to the slave girl, as well as all the firstborn cattle. There will be a great cry throughout all the land. HOWEVER not a dog’s growl or man’s hand shall come against the people of Israel; that you may know, oh king, that God has made a distinction between  Egypt and Israel.” After Moses delivers this warning, God tells him that the king will not listen. God hardened the king’s heart once again “that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

God’s process:

• Instruction – God always gives instruction, this is one of the few times He foretells all the details of what is to come.
• Provision – God allowed the Egyptians to provide for the Israelites.
• Warning – God is very clear as to the consequences to those who chose not to obey.

How often do we find ourselves in situations that IF we had just listened to God’s instruction and warning – we would be in a place of receiving His provision – NOT in a place of seeking a way of rescue.

Exodus 11

God sent 10 plagues on the land of the Egyptians. It only took one plague to get the king to begin offering Moses his freedom. Yet, each offer was a lie; when the ninth plague had ended, Egypt was literally destroyed.

1. Nile turned to Blood. The Nile was Egypt’s source of water, for 7 days blood flowed through the riverbed.

2. Frogs. God said, “Frogs will cover the land, come into your homes, into your bedrooms, into your beds. They will enter your kitchens, your ovens and your mixing bowls. They will be on you and your servants.” The king asks Moses to make it stop. God answered and the Egyptians “heaped the frogs into piles and the land stank.”

3. Gnats. God turned the dust of the land into gnats. If you’ve ever been where gnats are, they have the ability to slowly drive you crazy.

4. Flies. All of Egypt is covered with flies. All but where the Israelite’s lived, that is. I hate when one fly enters the house, can’t imagine what it was like to have swarms, everywhere, all the time.

5. Livestock. God kills all the Egyptian livestock.

6. Boils. The Egyptians are covered with boils.

7. Hail. At this time, God tells the king that He could destroy the king at anytime. God is allowing the plagues so no one will ever forget how God freed the Israelites.

8. Locust. The locust covered the land and ate any vegetation left after the hail. Locust are noisy creatures. The sound must have been deafening.

9. Darkness. God covered the land with darkness. This would seem to be the plague that would affect the Egyptians emotions. Extended darkness plays havoc with your mind.

You just never know how far down ‘hitting rock bottom’ is for people. Clearly ‘bottom’ for the king was way, way down there. God knows how to make a statement. He knows how to make it memorable. God knows how to get everyone’s attention!

Years have passed and Moses is an adult. He witnessed an Egyptian treating a Hebrew unfairly. Moses killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand. The following day he realized that his actions were known, Moses flees out of fear.

More years have passed. Moses is tending the flocks that belong to his father-in-law when he saw flames coming from a bush, yet the bush was not burning. This is the first of many recorded conversations between God and Moses. God informed Moses that He was going to free the Israelites from Egypt and that Moses was going to lead that endeavor. Here is where we see how God seems to use weak, fearful people to do great things. Moses responses with a list of BUTS:

• But who am I to do this?
• But they won’t believe me!
• But I’m not an eloquent speaker!  (I like to think he said, “But I don’t speak good.”)
• But God, please send someone else.

God promised Moses that his brother Aaron could go with him to speak. On the way back to Egypt, God actually decides to kill Moses, BUT Moses’ wife circumcised their son in order to stop God’s anger against him. Such a strange addition to the story line.

Surprisingly, the Israelites do believe Moses when he first tells them of God’s plan. Things turned quickly however, as the king does his best to work the Israelites to death. The Israelites hearts are broken, they are discouraged. Moses’ BUTS become WHYS;

• Why did you send me?
• Why have you brought evil on these people?

The BUTS weren’t far behind:

• But they don’t believe me.
• But he won’t listen to me.
• But I can’t speak well.
• But, but, but….

Moses was not 80 years old. 60 years had passed since he killed the Egyptian and hid the body. The Israelites were discouraged and angry. The king was determined to make their lives miserable.

God said, “Now that I have all your attention…”

Joseph and all his brothers had settled in Egypt. Since the time of Joseph’s death, the people of Israel multiplied and had become exceedingly strong and wealthy. There was a new king in power, this king didn’t know of Joseph. He did know of the Israelites – and their numbers and wealth scared him.

The king gave orders to the Hebrew midwives to kill any male Hebrew baby they delivered.  But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them… Exodus 1:17

You gotta love determined women who fear God! 

When questioned why they were not killing the male babies, they said, “The Hebrew women are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes.”   So God dealt well with the midwives.  Exodus 1:21

You gotta love that God deals well with those who do what it right!

The king commanded that every baby boy born to the Hebrews be cast into the Nile. When Moses was born, his mother hid him for 3 months. After that, she put him in a basket and placed him in the reeds of the Nile. Moses’ big sister was standing guard near by. The king’s daughter found the basket and brought it to shore. Moses’ sister rushed in and offered to get a Hebrew woman to care for the baby. Moses is saved from the Nile, the same place that was intended for his death.

Moses is raised by his own mother – under the care of the daughter of the same king that feared his people and had ordered to the killing of the male babies.

You gotta love God’s sense of humor!

Joseph has his father Jacob brought to Egypt. Under the Kings instruction, Joseph selected the best land in Egypt for them to settle. Joseph is once again united with his family.

Jacob lived in Egypt with his sons for 17 years. As his days grew to an end, Jacob called his sons and blessed each one. Word was sent to Joseph of his father’s illness and he made his way to his father’s side. When Jacob died, not only did he and his brothers mourn, but the entire land of Egypt mourned out of respect to Joseph.

After Jacob’s death, 10 brothers once again became very fearful. Once their father was out of the picture they assumed that Joseph would take his revenge. I have come to realize that most individual’s fears are based on the assumption that others will react as they would. I have no doubt if the tables were turned, these 10 would have taken this opportunity to take revenge on Joseph. How sad that these brothers had not used this time to really get to know and understand the great man their brother was.

Joseph’s reply:

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

What you meant for evil, my God meant for good!

 Genesis 44-50