Sometimes, out of the blue, a terrible announcement comes that upends the lives of everyone involved. The unfortunate people of Ukraine, invaded by Russia, are a recent example. Guilty of nothing except being good neighbors, they today endure tragedy, struggle and hardship.

The descendants of Abraham living in Egypt received such an announcement. As their population grew, the king feared an uprising. He discussed the problem with his advisors. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.

His idea? Enslave and oppress the Israelites. Put them to hard labor and work them ruthlessly.

I wonder how the announcement took place? Did rumors swirl first? Or did bands of soldiers enter the Israeli villages and herald the change out of the blue? How did the men feel? The wives and mothers and children? Certainly hearts sank and fears multiplied.

Eventually Pharaoh’s plan backfired when Moses, led by the Lord, walked out of Egypt at the head of the oppressed. But that came years later. Moses was not even born when this proclamation boomed out. At the time, little hope existed. People clung only to old stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and a promised land.

Terrible announcements come swiftly, with no foreseeable hope. In such situations we can only cling to the Lord and pray his plan, as we read in the old stories, is still in the works.

Exodus 1 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Hussain Badshah