Deliverance from Egypt

When God sent Moses to demand Israel’s release, He already knew Pharaoh would refuse yet He ordained the confrontation to accomplish two crucial purposes. First, it hardened Pharaoh’s heart, intensifying his rebellion until judgment shattered it. Second, Pharaoh’s harsh retaliation forced the Israelites themselves to stop clinging to slavery and to stand with Moses. God often works the same way in our lives: before deliverance comes, He allows pressures to increase so we finally recognize the moral issue and take a stand. Israel blamed Moses, not Pharaoh, when things worsened, unwilling to accept that freedom never comes cheaply. Though they grew enough to walk out of Egypt, Egypt still lived in their hearts and for that reason the older generation died in the wilderness. Before God leads us into His promises, He must strip Egypt from our hearts as well. The question is: are we too attached to bondage to embrace the freedom God offers?