THE ESCAPE OF ISREALITES FROM EGYPT

 Many years after Joseph had brought his family to dwell in Egypt, their population multiplied rapidly and they grew into a nation. After a time, a new Pharaoh came to the throne. This Pharaoh did not know about Joseph and how he had saved Egypt from famine. He saw their growing numbers as a threat to his national security and opted to punish them severely by forcing heavy labour on them. 

The work that the Egyptians forced on the Isrealites was cruel and extremely harsh. The Egyptian masters worked the Isrealites ruthlessly and made their lives bitter, as a result, Israel languished in misery and suffering. In the midst of the harsh treatment, the children of Israel continued to grow. Pharaoh became very angry and commanded the midwives to kill all the male children born to the Hebrew women. He commanded them saying "When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live"[Ex 1:16]

The midwives who possessed the fear of God disobeyed the royal order and in turn, the children of Israel continued to grow. It was this mistreatment by the Egyptians that paved the path for their redemption. The lord heard the cry of the Isrealites and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God had pity on them and decided to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians. 

The lord spoke to Moses out of a burning bush in Midian where Moses was domiciled and told him he must deliver his people from bondage. The lord said to him "I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt."[Ex 3:10]. 

Moses is one of the greatest leaders who has ever lived. He had a lifetime of 120 years which can be divided into three periods. 40 years as a peince in Egypt, 40 years in the wilderness of Midian as a shepherd and 40 years as the leader of God's people. He was born during the time Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill the male babies. The midwives refused to kill Moses but rather hid him for 3 months.

They made a little boat and put Moses in the river near the place that Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe. Moses' older sister, Miriam watched nearby until Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe and found the baby. Miriam requested of Pharaoh's daughter that Jochebed nurse the baby for her. 

Pharaoh's daughter agreed not knowing that Jochebed was the mother of the child. Therefore, Moses was brought up as a Prince in the palace of Pharaoh as his grandson, he was cared for by his own mother who must have told him about the true God and his people.

When Moses became a man, he gave up the pleasures of Egypt and chose to be a slave with his own people instead of a prince in the house of Pharaoh. One day, he saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite and he defended the Isrealite by killing the Egyptian. 

When this became known to Pharaoh, Moses fled Egypt to the land of Midian, a region several hundred miles east of Egypt. At Midian, Moses met Jethro, a priest of God. He married Jethro's daughter Zipporah and became the father of two sons. It was here in Median that Moses remained serving as a shepherd until God called him out of the burning bush.

Moses gave many excuses but God gave him His reassurance. Moses said to God "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"[Ex 3:11] but God answered him "I will be with thee"[Ex 3:12]. He went home from the burning bush and told Jethro, his father in-law that he would be returning back to Egypt. 

He took his wife and his sons and set them upon an ass and he returned to Egypt. At this time, the Pharaoh that was in power when he killed the Egyptian had died. When he arrived Egypt, God sent Aaron to go and meet him. Aaron was Moses' elder brother and a good public speaker. God sent him to serve as a spokesperson for Moses.

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go"[Exo 5:1]. Pharaoh the wicked king refused and rather questioned them "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go"[Exo 5:2]. He then intensified the afflictions of the Isrealites. God sent series of ten plagues upon the land of Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to free his people.

First, the water was turned to blood but Pharaoh hardened his heart. Second, the land was filled with frogs but Pharaoh's heart was still hard. Third, the dust of the land became lice still, Pharaoh refused to let the people go. Fourth, God sent a plague of flies upon Egypt, only the Egyptians were affected, the land of Goshen where Israel lived was not touched by the flies. 

This time, Pharaoh said Isreal could go but he changed his mind and held them back. Fifth, God sent a sickness upon all the cattle, sheep, carmels, horses and donkeys of Egypt so that they died but Pharaoh still hardened his heart.

Seventh, God sent hail upon the land. All the crops were destroyed. Pharaoh confessed he had sinned but when God took away the hail, he hardened his heart again. Eight, God sent a plague of locusts. Again, Pharaoh admitted he had sinned then changed his mind after God took the locust away. Nineth, God sent thick darkness all over Egypt, this lasted for three days, still, Pharaoh would not let Israel go.

Finally, God sent the tenth plague. God instructed the Israelites to kill a one year old male lamb without spot or blemish. They were to kill the lamb and strike the blood on the doorposts of the houses of the Isrealites on the 14th day of the month. 

The children of Israel did exactly as God commanded them. In the night, God passed through the land of Egypt, killing all their firstborn, both human and animals. Pharaoh expelled them with immediate effect and they left Egypt with jewelries, silver, gold and clothing belonging to the Egyptians.

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