Sometimes when we think about the Exodus we think about the mighty deeds – how God judged Egypt and delivered his people – sometimes we think about the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night – the visible presence of God the Holy Spirit – sometimes we think about how they used to be slaves – but now they have been set free.
But what was the experience of the people of God in the middle of the story? Moses comes back to Egypt – preaching the gospel of salvation from slavery – he tells them that God will deliver them from Pharaoh – and then he goes before Pharaoh, declares the Word of the LORD, and what happens?
Not just nothing.
If only it had been nothing!
No, it gets worse.
This contradicts the prosperity gospel in all its forms – whether the crass materialism of those who say “send me your money and God will bless you,” or the comfortable middle-class version of those who say “just trust God and life will get better.”
Abraham was told that it would be 400 years before his descendants would inherit the Land. At the end of Deuteronomy Moses says that Israel will fail – and go into Exile – and only later will God do all that he has promised in blessing Israel!
The good news of the gospel is not that “Jesus suffered so that you don’t have to!” The good news of the gospel is that Jesus suffered and was raised from the dead, so that we, too, might pass through death unto life...
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