Slices
Prepare
Some events in our lives can bring about dramatic change. They might be joyful, full of sadness, or unexpectedly left field. How has your life changed because of specific circumstances?
Bible passage
The exodus
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.’
33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. ‘For otherwise,’ they said, ‘we will all die!’ 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favourably disposed towards the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.
37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.
40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honour the Lord for the generations to come.
Explore
For the first nine plagues, Pharaoh either refused outright to let the Israelites go, or stipulated particular conditions under which they could leave. Each time his heart was hardened and when the plague ceased he changed his mind and the Israelites stayed put. And despite all that, several times he requested Moses to pray to the Lord for him. (Glance through Exodus 7–11.)
This time, the final plague, with its catastrophic deathly outcome, tips Pharaoh into letting the Israelites go for long enough for them to actually leave. Indeed, he’s in a big hurry for them to leave. So are the Egyptians (v 33). Everything the Israelites need, he grants. And he still wants their blessing (vs 31,32). The Israelites are able to take advantage of this situation and come away materially provided for (vs 35,36) as well as with food for the beginning of the journey.
Above all, this is the hand of the Lord. It is his doing that the Israelites leave with such riches (v 36). And it is his watchfulness that allows the Exodus finally to begin (v 42).
Respond
What circumstances are you, or your loved ones, facing? Give thanks today that in all of them, the Lord is watching over us and is acting for our good.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 11,12; John 5
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray that SU staff and holiday and event leaders care for every young leader well so that they feel loved and valued. (This week's prayers relate to this article.)
