Are You Ready For Your Exodus?

Lately I have been thinking about Passover and the significance of each aspect. First, God tells them:

““This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It was a time to mark new beginnings.

Then He instructed them in great detail of how they were to plan and prepare for the sacrifice.

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It was a time to prepare and purify themselves from sin.

“This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It was a time to be ready for His deliverance.

I wonder what they thought as they heard these instructions after waiting in slavery for 430 years. Generations having passed with less and less hope of freedom. Did some of them prepare begrudgingly? Doubting that deliverance was so near at hand that they would have to “eat in haste”. Literally sitting fully prepared to walk out of Egypt as they ate.

It makes me think of how I view God’s promises to me. Granted I haven’t waited 430 years but I know how it feels to wait. It’s been almost four years since I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. In the very early days God spoke and said that I would live and not die and that He would take care of everything that pertains to me. He has. 95% of people with my diagnosis don’t last three years according to medical statistics. But my God promised.

It’s hard to stay prepared for something you have waited on for such a long time. I believe that is why God gave so many specific instructions. He gave them to me too. My job is to rest, my body needs it to battle. I am also to start focusing on living instead of focusing on trying not to die. So I am exercising several times a week, probably not as much as some people do but strengthening my body nonetheless. I am learning to fully dwell in His presence. I am focusing on others and trying to help however I can. All of this adds up to me being ready to “eat in haste”…. I want to be ready to walk out of my Egypt. Not only that but I want to plunder the land as I go, reclaiming hearts that the enemy has kept captive.

What situation are you facing where you have been waiting? What has God promised? Are you eagerly waiting to walk out of your Egypt? Are you keeping your eyes on Him and eagerly preparing for your exodus? I know the waiting can be hard and can make us doubt but God’s covenant promises will come to pass. He will move you forward into your land of milk and honey. Be prepared for your exodus!