I love the way God provided for the Israelites when they were in Egypt. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) had been there 400 years. I imagine that they had a rather dismal view of life which consisted mainly of working and being beaten. Yet, through their captivity, through their slavery, God was at work. He had a plan. He saw the big picture. He knew more than just their daily struggle. He knew that they had no hope apart from Him.
In God's timing, not the Israelites, God raised up Moses. God brought Moses before Pharaoh. The people may have been full of despair; I would have been and it wouldn't have taken 400 years to get to that point either.
God began performing his works before all of Egypt. Moses, in his own strength, was inadequate. Israel was certainly in no position to rebel against the most powerful nation on earth. And yet, God reigns supreme. He does not ask anyone's permission to act. He does not require anyone else's strength. He is the Creator God. The God Most High.
God sent Moses to Pharaoh to deliver God's message. Moses went time and time again. God acted each time to put His works on display for the entire world. Pharaoh resisted. God hardened his heart. Pharaoh resisted some more. It's not easy for the leader of the civilized world to be beaten into submission. But this conflict, and it's lessons are still being talked about today. God referred to this time throughout the Bible as a testimony to His power and might as well as to His plan and care for Israel and His plan of salvation.
God not only crushed Egypt. He freed Israel. In addition, He gave a beautiful picture of Jesus' sacrifice and atonement for our sins. Israel's whole culture was founded on Jesus.
We can rest in God completely. Our circumstances do not tell the whole story. Only God can do that.
