TALES FROM EGYPT

Good morning people.

As we discussed the phrase "The devil you know is better than an unknown angel" yesterday, someone noted that if that is true, the Israelites should have stayed in Egypt. That got me thinking about Israel's sojourn in Egypt.

Israel was actually led to Egypt by God. He sent a forerunner (not the car joor, lol) in the person of Joseph to prepare Egypt for Israel. Israel was not in rebellion at the time they went to Egypt.

Initially, the Israelites had things easy. Life was good. They went WILLINGLY to Egypt as FREE men. At some point, however, when they were no longer alert/watchful, they became slaves in the land God led them to. They suddenly found themselves dealing with taskmasters. I'm wondering what made them remain in Egypt. There was NOTHING physically binding them to Egypt yet they stayed and possibly they hoped things would get better.

In Genesis 15, God already foretold of Israel's slavery and oppression in Egypt. The period God said was for 400 years. God didn't name the actual nation but Egypt entered the prophecy by THEMSELVES when they CHOSE to enslave and oppress Israel (Note to file for every oppressor and taskmaster...). God promised to punish the nation and that Israel would leave with great possessions.

We are told in Exodus 12:40 that the Israelites spent 430 years in Egypt. That's 30 years above what God foretold. Why? The short answer to that is "I DON'T KNOW", lol. The long answer is 'I don't know but I can guess". *More smiles* I think Israel stayed longer than they should have in Egypt because 1) they didn't KNOW what God had said about the situation and 2) they waited for things to get super duper hot before they cried out to God...

I think it was the phrase "The devil you know is better than an unknown angel" that kept them longer than they should have stayed in captivity. I think they intended to continue "managing" the situation. I think that's why they had problems with God in the wilderness; I think they preferred to hang on to their beloved "devil".

I'm glad they had enough sense, though, to cry out to God. I'm glad that inspite of their love for the onions and cucumbers of Egypt, the oppression was enough to cause them to cry out. Egypt needed to be punished and Israel had great possessions to collect from them.

I have to go now but I'll definitely continue with this in the nearest future. Whatever you have on your plate today, make today count.

Have a blessed and productive day