The Exodus

 

When the children of Jacob (Israel) arrived in Egypt, Pharaoh gave them the land of Goshen. For 430 years they lived, loved, and grew into a mighty tribe. As the Egyptian’s fear of their continuing strength grew, they forced the children of Jacob into harder labor and harsher conditions until they began to cry out to the God of their father's for salvation.

Although born during a time of a mandate to kill all male Hebrew babies, Moses escaped death. Found and adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh, raised with all the privileges of a Pharaoh’s grandson, and afforded all the knowledge of Egypt, Moses retained his Hebrew heart.

Moses thrived. Eventually, he went out among “his own people.” The Bible says he witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, looked around to see who was watching, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15). That event changed the course of his life forever.  Gripped by fear, he decided to run. For the next forty years, the back side of a desert became his classroom.

Eventually God called Moses to return to his people and deliver the generations of Jacob’s family from Egyptian bondage. Moses, an unwilling participant in that plan, begged God to find someone else (Exodus 4:10-13). But God had a plan, and it included Moses.

As I read, I watched this familiar story unfold before my eyes, and I could feel the panic as Moses begged God. Find someone else. I am not an eloquent speaker. God, you have the wrong man for the job. What will I say when they asked me “Who sent you?” What if they won’t believe? What if they call me a liar? What if, what if, what if…

Have you ever been trapped in the “what if” mode? I have. It paralyzes.  Has God called you to participate in His plan, but it seems too overwhelming to comprehend? Has God said to you, “Go” but you have begged Him to send someone else? Has God said come, but you have answered wait?

Psalm 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all (my) days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.”

Just as God had a plan for the lives of Jacob and his descendants, and just as God had a plan for Moses on the back side of that desert, God has a plan for you. You may run from it, but you cannot hide from God. You are never out of His sight. The good news - God’s plan was set in place before the foundations of the earth (John 1:1-18). The good news - He never changes. The good news - from Genesis through Revelation God’s plan  includes the  redemption of fallen man unto Himself. The good news - He has invited you to participate in His plan.

Our world can use some “Good News,” and I’m excited about sharing it. Join me in determining to stop asking what if and instead saying “Yes, Lord.”  Be blessed today friends, and don’t forget to look up.