The Second Exodus from the Mud Pits of Egypt, Pt. 1 “I Have Heard the Cry of My People” A soul and economic prospering journey. 3 John 1:2-8
Today, in the world, there are many cries—not only from God’s church but from all people. Injustice, unrighteousness, tyranny, genocide, poverty, and so many other woes are reaching the heart of the Father. Indeed, all of creation groans, crying out, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Even the wealthy, comfortable, and seemingly content have inward cries they cannot identify. Deep down, they sense that something is missing—that they were designed for more than what they are currently experiencing. There is a longing for more in both the impoverished of spirit and the impoverished of the world. We are in bondage either way. I have lived in both of these places.
I did not realize how depraved and deprived I was in the wealthy place until I was placed in a situation where I had to wonder how I would survive, feed, clothe, and shelter my family. A perfect storm arose out of nowhere to strip us of all we knew. Then, the grace of God entered our lives like a Moses! The light came on, and now we are seated at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus! Hallelujah! In Scripture, we see the cries of the enslaved Israelites—bonded to a system of government that foreshadows today. We, too, are slaves in Egypt, building for them to establish their glory, while deep inside, we are crying out to build the Kingdom of God on earth—for this is what we were truly saved to do.
God Hears Our Cries
Exodus 3:7-22
The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey… And now indeed, the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them. So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 12 He replied, “Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God at this mountain.” 13 Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’—what should I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘The LORD—the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.’ 16 “Go and bring together the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, appeared to me—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—saying, “I have attended carefully to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I have promised that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 “The elders will listen to you, and then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even under force. 20 So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you. 21 “I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty-handed. 22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters—thus you will plunder Egypt!”
Moses is a liberator and represents the transition from an economy of slavery to the promised land. Just as God heard the cries of the Israelites, He hears our cries today. Many believers are deciding to step out of the slave system and build for God. But as soon as we make this decision, the wilderness of intimidating thoughts, fear, and loss floods our minds.
How does this work? Will we lose our company, our job, or our home? Surely, God, You are not saying that all may be lost? Don’t we get to plunder Egypt on our way out? What is the cost?
The First Step of Faith
The first step is the hardest. When God called Abram to leave his father’s land, it was possible because Abram had encountered God. His heart and mind had been prepared. The first provision for him—and for us—is faith. Faith is our manna from heaven. We have the Word of God to walk on, no matter where He calls us to go. His promises and blessings are our sandals and clothing that never wear out.
We know the places of the wanderings and the reasons behind them, but our journey to the promised land is through the Cross of Christ. Jesus is our branch in the bitter waters, our bronze serpent in the desert, and the living water from the rock. As we embark on this journey from victory to greater works, we must remain steadfast in abiding in Him and His Word.
In the next part of this series, we will explore in greater depth what we are leaving behind and why, as well as where we are going and the purpose of this transition. Just as in the Wilderness of Zin, there are different types of people on slightly different journeys—including the leaders. May we walk this path in love and unity.
