As I reflect on the story of the Israelites and their time in Egypt, I am filled with awe at how God orchestrates our lives, even when we can’t see it. The Israelites’ journey to Egypt began during a time of great need. There was a severe famine in the land, and their move to Egypt, where there was food, was a matter of survival (Genesis 41:56-57). Egypt, at that moment, seemed like the best option for life and sustenance. God allowed them to go there because, at that time, it served His purpose to preserve them.
But here’s where it gets amazing: from the moment they arrived in Egypt, God already knew how the story would unfold. He knew that the Israelites would eventually become enslaved and oppressed under Pharaoh’s harsh rule. Even though they entered Egypt willingly and found refuge at first, God saw the end from the beginning. He knew their pain, their cries, and their future deliverance, long before they ever experienced it.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT). This verse resonates with the story of the Israelites. Even in their suffering, God had a plan for their future.
Over the course of 430 years, the Israelites endured slavery, hard labour, and despair. They longed for freedom but couldn’t escape on their own. In their most desperate moments, when they couldn’t see a way out, God was already working on their deliverance. He raised up a deliverer—Moses—long before they cried out for help. God’s plan was so meticulous that He ordained Moses’ life from birth.
Moses was born during a time when Pharaoh had decreed that all Hebrew baby boys should be killed, but God intervened. Moses was hidden in a basket on the Nile River, where Pharaoh’s daughter found him and raised him as her own son (Exodus 2:1-10). Isn’t it remarkable that the very household that sought to destroy the Israelites became the place where their deliverer was nurtured? God’s hand was on Moses from the start, sparing him for a greater purpose.
Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, but God had placed a deep burden within him for the suffering of his people. That compassion and anger for their mistreatment didn’t come from nowhere—God had planted it in him. It was part of the plan. Moses couldn’t stand to see his people oppressed, and one day, in his anger, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:11-12). Fearing for his life, Moses fled into the wilderness, where he spent 40 years shepherding sheep. But even in that wilderness, God was preparing him for his true calling. Just as Moses led sheep, he would later lead God’s people through that same wilderness. Nothing in his life was wasted.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NLT). Moses’ time in the wilderness may have seemed like a detour, but it was God’s training ground. Sometimes, we feel like we’re in a wilderness season, wondering what’s next, but God is equipping us for the purpose He has in store.
When the time was right, God called Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom. Moses, who stammered and doubted his abilities, questioned God’s choice, but God reassured him that He would be with him (Exodus 3:10-12). Moses, equipped with everything God had placed in him, went on to confront Pharaoh and, by the grace of God, led the Israelites out of bondage.
Even then, Moses sometimes doubted his own knowledge and experience. In Numbers 10:29-32, Moses asks a man to guide the Israelites through the wilderness, despite the fact that Moses had spent 40 years in that same wilderness himself. Isn’t that how we are sometimes? Even after all God has done for us, after all He has brought us through, we can still doubt that we have what it takes. We forget that God has already given us everything we need to fulfil our purpose.
This entire story is a reminder that nothing in your life is accidental. Every experience, every hardship, every lesson is part of the bigger picture that God is weaving together. Just as He prepared Moses, He has also prepared you. You may not understand everything right now, but trust that God is working behind the scenes. He has put within you all that you need to become the person He created you to be.
You were created at the right time, with the right skills, and the right experiences. Even the challenges you face are shaping you for your future purpose. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28, NLT). Trust that He is using every part of your story to work for your good.
So, do not doubt yourself. Know that you are equipped, and God has a plan for you that is far greater than anything you can imagine. Just as He raised up Moses, He has called you and placed within you everything you need to fulfil your purpose. Trust His timing and His plan.
Have a blessed and purposeful day.