17 July 2021

The time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. At the end of four hundred and thirty years, on that very day, all the companies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:37-42, NRSV

The final plague that was visited on Egypt finally convinced the Pharaoh to allow Moses and the people of Israel to leave Egypt. The firstborn in all the houses of Egypt was killed whereas the houses of those who had followed Moses’ instruction to paint their door lintels with the blood of a lamb were “passed over”. Finally, after over four hundred years of oppression in Egypt, the people of Israel were able to leave. They had to do this without delay and with few preparations for fear of reprisals from the Egyptians. A sizeable number of Hebrews as well as their flocks and herds set off on their journey towards freedom. Many generations had known no other life than the one they had in Egypt and so their hopes of freedom would probably have been mixed with feelings of some fear and uncertainty of what lay ahead.

• • What do you think would have been passing through the minds of the people as they embarked on their journey?
  • When have you had to make a sudden and important change in your life – what helped you in making this decision?

Pray today for all who are forced to leave their homes and to face a time of uncertainty and hardship.