Leaving Egypt

The LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt. . . . — Exodus 12:42 It was not easy to convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to release the people of God from slavery. Finally, after a series of ten plagues that brought suffering, destruction, and even death to countless families throughout the land (Exodus 7-12), Pharaoh urged the Israelites to go.Moses had also told the Israelites to ask the people of Egypt for clothing and silver and gold, and the Lord “made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for.” So the people of Israel left Egypt that night with plenty of supplies—even great wealth— along with their flocks and herds of animals.Surely this was more than the Israelites could have imagined. They had been slaves for generations in the land of Egypt, and now the Lord had made it possible for them to be freed. What’s more, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had provided abundantly more than they would need as they began their journey to the land God had promised them.One of the key phrases in this passage is that God “kept vigil.” Have you ever kept vigil? As a parent, I remember times of watching over a sick child during the night, constantly checking to see if our child was all right and moving into recovery. God is like a parent watching over his children—always. The Lord cares for us, wanting each one to flourish and enjoy the blessings of full life. Dear God, thank you for watching over us. We may wonder where you are at times—we may even cry out—but may we see and trust that you hold us faithfully in your hands. Amen.