The narrative of God saving Jacob’s family through Joseph in the land of Egypt (Genesis) is well known, as is Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised land (Exodus). Have you ever stopped to think about what happened in between these two events? Egypt, the land of Israel’s salvation, became the land of enslavement. The land of hope became the land of despair. But as you dive deeper into the circumstances surrounding these events, you will see that God used despair to ultimately draw the Israelites back into the Promised Land. The lessons gleaned from these narratives offers much encouragement and hope to anyone facing a season of despair today.

Salvation to Slavery

In Genesis, Israel and his sons left the land of Canaan – the Promised Land, as established in God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12) – and moved to Egypt to escape the famine. In Egypt, they made a living for themselves as shepherds and keepers of Pharaoh’s livestock. The Israelites were prosperous and multiplied, eventually becoming a threat to the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s kingdom. As time passed, a new Pharaoh ascended the throne, one who did not look upon the Israelites favorably. They no longer prospered – they were stripped of everything, even their humanity. They no longer had the opportunity to make a living – they toiled day and night under the sting of the ruthless whip. The land of hope and salvation became one of despair and death. Why was it necessary for the Israelites to suffer under the heavy hand of Pharaoh? Perhaps it was because they grew too comfortable living in a place that was only meant to be temporary. 

Desperation to Deliverance

God never intended Egypt to be the Israelites’ final destination. They had grown content living and working in a foreign land. Chances are the Israelites would not have willingly uprooted their families and prosperous livelihood to return to the Promised Land had God not flipped their world upside down. God used suffering, pain, and utter despair to shake them out of their complacency. Only when everything was stripped away would they place their hope in the One who would deliver them and lead them back to the Promised Land. If God sent Moses before the Israelites were enslaved, I doubt they would have followed. They had to become utterly desperate and brought to their knees first.

Driven into God’s Presence

We often use the Exodus out of Egypt as a metaphor for Jesus leading us, His church, out of the Egypt of sin and death. But have you ever thought about how the Exodus also serves as a beautiful picture of deliverance from despair? We face many seasons that feel a lot like Egypt – hopes are dashed, loved ones die, finances lie in ruin, disease runs rampant, broken relationships weigh heavily upon the heart. Perhaps instead of focusing on “Egypt” itself and the pain that ensues, we need to look ahead to where God is leading us.

Every “Egypt” season is a refining season, one where we grow weary and desperate. Desperate enough to recognize our own inadequacy. Desperate enough to cry out to God alone for strength and deliverance. It’s the type of desperation that’s often lacking when we are comfortable in our circumstances. It’s the type of desperation that is absent when we place our confidence and faith in our own abilities and strength. 

So through every “Egypt” season of despair, He makes us more like Him, drawing us deeper into His presence. And His presence is the ultimate Promised Land.

Megan Mascarenhas

The trials and suffering that result from living in a sinful world are redeemed by God each day for His glory. He loves us too much to leave us in a place where we will miss out on the fullness of His promises. So through every “Egypt” season of despair, He makes us more like Him, drawing us deeper into His presence. And His presence is the ultimate Promised Land.