My Journey

O.T. #165  "My Journey"
Nov. 8, 2013
Exodus 12-Part 5
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth; about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.  Exodus 12:37

LET IT GLOW

My life's journey has taken me all over my state (and one other state) to live and to visit other countries to share the gospel of Jesus. We have moved so many times in the last 40 years that in order to recall the year something happened, I think of where we lived during that time. Then I can pinpoint the year. I started out this journey as a woman in her twenty's with a husband and two children. We were not alone because we were following the Lord. We are still on a journey with Jesus.
This country road led me through the wilderness and  flourishing lands, troubles and trials, blessings and cups overflowing, hard times and easy times. However, I have not come to the end of my journey yet. (I got close several times.) The children of Israel's journey as free people was only beginning.

Can you  imagine the smile and glow on the faces of the children of Israel as they left a life of slavery and enter a life of freedom?
A nation grew from 70 men to 603,550 men from ages 20 and over (Num. 1:46). The entire group included women and children, which must have been over 2 million in total. The blessings of God was upon their multiplication (Ex. 1:7). (There were 11 generations between Jacob and Joshua in
1 Chronicles 7:22-27.)
The 70 men were the children of Israel, the family of Jacob, (who had 12 sons) moved to Goshen during a famine, while son Joseph was the second in command. They ended up staying 430 years as slaves to the Egyptians.

God had told their father Abraham that all of this would occur. It did just as He had promised-slavery and deliverance.
The children of Israel journeyed. Journeyed means to pull up, especially the tent-pins; start on a journey; to forward; take a journey; march; be on his (go their) way. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)

They were journeying through the wilderness to Canaan, the Promised Land. This was the end (of slavery) and a beginning (of freedom). For the young ones, it was the beginning of a new life. (Yet they would wonder around in the wilderness for the next 40 years due to their lack of faith to go conquer the Promised Land.) For the old ones, it was a happy ending to a hard life of slavery.

Life is a journey for us. Where had you been? Where are you now? Where are you going? Questions to ponder. Are we walking with Jesus? Is He leading us in the direction that He wants us to go? Are we going His way or going our own way? Are we walking by faith or by sight?

LET IT GROW

Who and what went, exited Egypt?

• the children of Israel, which we previously discussed;
• a mixed multitude-foreigners, strangers, that caused trouble along the way (Numbers. 11:4); Barnes Commentary calls them "riff-raff" and a mob of people scraped together; Liberty Bible Commentary describes the Egyptian group as that which leaped on the bandwagon;
• flocks, herds, and very much cattle;
• unleavened dough used to bake cakes (verse 39);
• kneading troughs (verse 34);
• articles of silver and gold plus clothing obtained from their Egyptian neighbors;
• the bones of Jacob and Joseph.

Although the Bible doesn't mention all the regular household items, as a woman, I wonder if they took many other things. (Of course the famous movie portrayed furniture and lots of other items.)

The Israelites were willing and ready to move from the familiar to the unfamiliar at the moment God told them to go. We should be just as prepared to change locations, jobs, or even careers if the Lord calls on us to do so. Are you ready? will you be obedient when He calls? (Swindoll)

I wonder if Moses and Aaron breathed a sigh of relief that first night in camp. God had used them in fulfilling  His plan to lead His people. Little did they know of the struggles that lie ahead.

Do we need deliverance from our Egypt? From the things that have us enslaved-health issues, finances, marriage, children, job, discouragement? Jesus can be our deliverer.

How are we serving the Lord by ministering to people? Who are we taking with us to heaven when the end of our journey comes?

LET IT GO

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.  Matthew 16:24

Dispose of the riff-raff (trash) that I am carrying by laying it at the feet of Jesus, and asking His forgiveness.

Prepare to pull up the tent pins and go, march forward for Jesus.

Journey with Jesus.