Seventy people from Joseph's family, including Jacob, went to Egypt when Joseph became the second-highest official there. According to Exodus 12:40, the exact number of years that Israelites stayed in Egypt was 430 years. During Joseph's time, the Israelites prospered; however, as Joseph's generations passed and new pharaohs ruled Egypt, they had forgotten Joseph. Near the end of the 430 years, the Israelites began to be treated as slaves. The Egyptians felt threatened by the number of populations of the Israelites because, at this time, at least 1 million Israelites were living in Egypt. The Egyptians oppressed the Israelites horribly, and Pharoah ordered the midwives to kill every baby boy to be killed to control their populations. So, the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance. Psalm 105:23-25 summarizes the story, "Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham (Egypt). And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord's servants."
Israelites' life in Egypt was not outside of the purpose and plan of God. God multiplied their population, and when it was time for God to lead them out of Egypt, God allowed them to be oppressed by the Egyptians so that they would realize that it was time for them to leave Egypt. God understood that the Israelites would initially resist leaving Egypt as they had become comfortable there, but it was only when the Egyptians began to oppress them severely that they would be compelled to go. Sometimes, for God to guide us out of our comfort zone and into the place He desires for us, He will create discomfort to encourage us to move. I remember when God was leading me to be a missionary to the Philippines. I was working in the IT field at one of the companies in Las Vegas. In my first few years at my job, God blessed me. He allowed me to be promoted and given a decent salary. However, when it was time for God to lead me to become a missionary, God began to stir my heart to the point that the only way I could have peace was to resign and follow His leading.
God knows us very well. He knows how to prompt us to go where He wants us to go. God loves us so much that He will always ensure we are productive. He is always working in our lives to make us better and to help us fulfill His wonderful plan for us.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is one of the ways God leads us from our comfort zone? Have I considered that the reason God is allowing my discomfort right now is that He wants me to do something or lead me somewhere?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for always being at work in my life. Please help me discern your plan and be willing to obey. Please help me trust you when you lead me to an uncomfortable place so that you can fulfill your wonderful plan for me. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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