Imagine that your family and friends, from as far back as anybody can remember, has been living in substandard housing, working twelve hour days with little or no time off, and suddenly you had an opportunity to get away from all that?
That is what happened to the people the great Zaphenath-paneah had brought in as refugees as he was managing an economy gone bad due to a drastic change in the climate of his adopted country. That's right, Egypt was in dire straights, but a young Hebrew slave had risen, by the grace of God, to save not only the Egyptians, but the extended family of his father Jacob.
His management style, though, had reduced the people of Egypt to wards of the state. A total welfare state had arisen when people sold themselves to Pharaoh to make it through the Great Famine. It is not hard to imagine the Egyptians' jealousy over the freedoms afforded to the immigrants. But Joseph died after 70 years in power, so the people of Egypt begged the government for relief. And sure enough, a new dynasty had arisen which promised to ease their load.
The solution was obvious: make the foreigners do the work. The native Egyptians cheered as the government began to utilize the labor force of the growing Hebrew population. The trouble was, that population was growing to fast. The solution the Pharaoh came up with was ghastly: infanticide! In ancient society, as in most of the world even today, the men who married a woman conferred his citizenship to her. If the Pharaoh's plan had worked, the Hebrews would have become Egyptians within a generation. But God was in control, and at least two midwives disobeyed the civil magistrates and saved many of the boy babies from being drowned in the Nile. One such baby would come to be called "Moses" by his adoptive mother, the daughter of the royal house!
The baby had been technically "thrown into the Nile" at the age of three months. His cries had been heard by neighbors and a plan had been hatched to assure his survival. He was
placed in the Nile in a little box--the word is the same as the waterproofed "ark" of Noah--and sent adrift in a place known to be used by the princess. The baby's big sister watched from afar to assure that the plan went well. In God's timing, it would be 80 long years before the Hebrew slaves would be freed by the elderly statesmen that the son of Amram, a Hebrew slave.
The return of Moses after a forty year exile was unexpected, with the man who likely grew up with him sitting upon the throne. Moses still feared his adoptive family, and with good reason. It took a reprimand from the LORD Himself, and the eloquent tongue of his older brother Aaron, for the fateful reunion to take place. The miraculous signs that God provided were enough to convince the vast majority of the Egyptians that it was too much trouble to keep these Hebrews around. But the Pharaoh was not impressed enough, but was hardened in his hate. What seemed to be a sanctioned deportation soon became a death trap.
But, God built a wall! At first, it was a wall of plasma in the form of fire at night and impenetrable cloud during the day. But then there was the water in the way. With no way of feeding the people, even that great manifestation of divine protection was inadequate. Then a greater miracle occurred: a great wind came down from the sky--a hot down current so powerful that it forced the waters of the Red Sea back creating a corridor with walls of water. The escape route had been provided, not by a team of engineers, but by the Creator of the universe!
The walls did not hold, though, and came roaring back on the horses and chariots that attempted to follow--beyond reason, or perhaps a warped sense of science--killing them all. The great escape had come off without a casualty among the Hebrews. It would take a few days before they could relax, and when they did, Moses went up to a mountain he grew up near to once again meet with God. This time it was not a bush that burned, but a mountaintop. It was there that the LORD gave his "State of the Nation" message, laying out timeless principles by which not only the Hebrews, but all people everywhere, could live by.
The book of Exodus has a lot for we Gentiles, as spiritual sons of Abraham, can take to heart. The laws of the world are largely based on the principles of life and relationships found in the "Second Table" of the Law inscribed on the tablets. Though the two tablets may have been copies (per ancient laws regarding treaties of a monarch to his subjects) the dividing of the Laws between worship of God and dealing with people are rightfully divided. No expectations would arise that a particular worship style or day of worship would apply to the world at large. However, when the governments of the world take on the authority not inherent in their station as institutions made by man, they often take on an attitude of divinity.
Common law requires loyalty to a national government over all other governments in order to assure each nation will remain as sovereign over its citizens. The flying of flags that represent these government reflect dimly the "idols" of gods being worshiped around the Hebrews as they journeyed to the land promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It has even been proven that a periodic day of rest is needed for a society to avoid burnout.
History has shown that the Hebrews got a better deal than their former masters. Under the direct leadership of the Creator of the universe, they would survive if they but would obey their new Master. Unfortunately, that would not go well, for the people were used to doing things their own ways. When they began to act like pagans, God would let them--for a while. But the downside was death and destruction. Not a good trade off!
Reflecting on the Exodus and the Law, one can only look on in amazement at a people blessed by God turning on Him at every opportunity. But then, we don't have a wall of plasma all around us. God's presence is not as visible to us. But, ninety-three million miles from us, His created star bombards us during our waking hours. Rocks filter water as it comes out of the ground hundreds of miles away. Oceans and rivers divide nations around the world.
God is good, all the time!
