I was recently considering the plight of Ancient Israel when they were held in captivity in Egypt during Moses’ life and imaging what it was like to have grown up under the hand of the master’s whip and cruelty of the taskmasters. It quickly raises the question, ‘where was God while all this was happening’?
Reading about Moses’ encounter with God at Mt. Sinai written in Exodus 3:6-10, God tells us quite clearly He was actively involved.
God was:
- Watching: He saw it all.
- Listening: He heard their cries.
- Remembering: Remembering His promises to Abraham. He hadn’t forgotten what He had said He would do. God is completely faithful to His word.
- Waiting: At this point in the story Moses is 80 years. 80 years since he was saved from the sword of Pharaoh’s soldiers; ordered to kill all Hebrew newborn boys. 80 years of opportunity for Egypt to change, to take a different course. A new Pharaoh would have come to power. Would he be different? Would he have a softer heart? Would he fear God and recognise the God of Joseph who had saved Egypt from famine?
Egypt is a nation filled with history. I’ve visited Egypt a few years ago and have seen pylons full of detailed records chronicling what has happened in this nation over years and years of history. The book of Genesis tells us the greatness of Pharaoh and Egypt was preserved by the warning God had provided Pharaoh in a dream and interpreted by Joseph. That part of their history was not being recognised and acknowledged at that time. They didn’t want to know about Joseph or the God of Joseph. As far as they were concerned, Egypt had saved itself from famine – had done it all itself.
Preparing – Over those 80 years God was preparing Moses for leadership. Moses wasn’t ready when he was a young adult, learning the wisdom of Egypt. He wasn’t ready when he was a young General, leading the Egyptian army (as told by Josephus). Moses had to identify with his people, leave the palace, and leave Egypt – to be prepared in the wilderness for 40 years with humbling.
Now God was ready to act – to deliver His people.
When I am in a trial, that gives me comfort that I haven’t been forgotten; God is watching what is happening in my life, listening to my prayers, remembering His promises, waiting to see how I am responding and preparing to take action. Then He delivers!
