The mass exodus

Exodus means ‘going out’. It’s the basis of words like EXIT. We still use it today to describe a mass exodus, often of a people chased from their homes by war or exploitation or famine to become refugees in search of peace, safety and food.

You can picture the scene. The Egyptians are reeling from a series of disgusting and devastating plagues that have culminated in the death of all their firstborn babies. They cannot wait to see the back of these Israelites. They give them silver and gold and clothing. The Israelites took their ‘dough before the yeast was added’ and their kneading troughs. And the bones of Joseph because do you remember? He made his people promise that they would not leave him in Egypt, but would take his remains to bury in the land that God was going to give them.

The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.  Exodus 12:37-38

The Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years. This was the day that God would bring them out. The Passover meal is established as an institution to mark this event – and only the circumcised can share in it.

This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.  Exodus 13:9

History matters. Remembering matters. What has happened in the past has made us what we are today as individuals and nations. This act of remembrance is important so that nothing is forgotten over time –

 “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  Exodus 13:14

I often think this about Africa. It seems to me that we are quick to judge the unrest and corruption and mismanagement and violence as somehow less civilised than we are and that we need to take pity on them and go in and solve it all…….but the little I know about history is that many of the problems were caused and created by Westerners going in and taking over in the past – imposing Western ways, exploiting the indigenous peoples, creating divisions and boundaries, stealing land and natural resources…….understanding the background would change how we view the present.

The next bit is really interesting, one of the lesser known parts of this story…..

 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”  Exodus 13:17

Better the devil you know and all that. It’s as if God knows they are going to struggle to trust him, even though He is God and everything will turn out OK in the end.

Sometimes we reluctantly agree to something and then (even subconsciously) undermine it and set it up to fail. Or we can’t actually believe that we are going to be set free from something, so look for signs that this newfound freedom is going to fail. I’ve been there. The mind is a powerful tool and negativity has a powerful effect (as does positivity but that is harder for some reason!)

Here’s a simple example. Keir’s gone off to uni in Manchester and after a few days texted ‘I’m waiting to get bored.’ Getting to the bottom of this revealed that everything is going so well and he is having such a great time that he does not believe it will last or can last. He’s hearing horror stories about accommodation and courses from other people and cannot believe his luck that it’s all working out so well for him.

We struggle to relax into a good situation for fear that it will come to an end. Some of us struggle to believe that we deserve to be happy and that if we are too happy and enjoy something too much, then we will be punished and it will be taken away from us. Screwed up thinking I know, but some of you know what I’m talking about. This leads to sabotaging healthy relationships, walking away from amazing opportunities, refusing to develop our creative gifts…….one setback (like the threat of war with the Philistines!) and boom! we’re out of there! retreating to our comfort zone and the security of our familiar routines (even if it is boring and sometimes downright miserable….).

Leaving the comfort zone means walking out into the unknown. There is risk involved. It’s embarking on a journey with no idea of the amazing adventures and scary challenges ahead. It involves trust and courage. But it’s what life is all about!