The Lord Saves His People
Exodus 12:40-42: "The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations."
The nation of Israel is free! They were in Egypt for 430 years, and now they were walking into a new land, a new way of living, and a new relationship with the Lord. The word "hosts" in this passage conveys a military-type presence of the people. They were strong, and they were many. Think back to the Pharaoh's fear of the Israelite nation. He feared their numbers and their strength, thinking that they might rise up against him. Little did this Pharaoh know about their military strength. Strength was not found in the multitudes but in their Lord. As we will see throughout the book of Exodus, God will fight for his people.
The text tells us that the Lord was watching his people. He was the one to bring them out of the land. One can imagine his large hand of protection wrapped around them, guiding them, and caring for them. The nation of Israel had long awaited this day, and the Lord had long ago planned this day of their deliverance. While deliverance didn't happen according to the Israelites' timing, it did happen in God's timing. Through their time of waiting on the Lord, the Hebrew people saw his power and his intervention on their behalf. They saw his judgement towards that nation of Egypt and his mercy towards the nation of Israel. The Israelites needed this revelation of the Lord in order to be made ready to trust and obey.
While their salvation was sure, their journey was just beginning!
Reflection:
How has God revealed himself to you in your waiting?
The nation of Israel is free! They were in Egypt for 430 years, and now they were walking into a new land, a new way of living, and a new relationship with the Lord. The word "hosts" in this passage conveys a military-type presence of the people. They were strong, and they were many. Think back to the Pharaoh's fear of the Israelite nation. He feared their numbers and their strength, thinking that they might rise up against him. Little did this Pharaoh know about their military strength. Strength was not found in the multitudes but in their Lord. As we will see throughout the book of Exodus, God will fight for his people.
The text tells us that the Lord was watching his people. He was the one to bring them out of the land. One can imagine his large hand of protection wrapped around them, guiding them, and caring for them. The nation of Israel had long awaited this day, and the Lord had long ago planned this day of their deliverance. While deliverance didn't happen according to the Israelites' timing, it did happen in God's timing. Through their time of waiting on the Lord, the Hebrew people saw his power and his intervention on their behalf. They saw his judgement towards that nation of Egypt and his mercy towards the nation of Israel. The Israelites needed this revelation of the Lord in order to be made ready to trust and obey.
While their salvation was sure, their journey was just beginning!
Reflection:
How has God revealed himself to you in your waiting?
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