Out of bondage...Into the riches...

 Out of bondage...into the riches....

To me, there are so many pictures in the Bible...

The Israelites were held in bondage, enslaved to work for Egyptians for four hundred years plus...so poor at the end, they had to gather straw to make the bricks that were demanded...probably a few sheep and garden areas..for their own sustenance...after the favor granted earlier by Joseph’s pharaoh...shepherding flocks which the Egyptians despised...used, beaten, and feared because of their strength in numbers...

Then, through the very intervention of God who tore down all of their idols in the various plagues He sent upon the land, showing Himself mightier than any of their manmade gods, Pharaoh finally let the people go...begging them to leave...

The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.”

 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 

The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 

And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. 

Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 

A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 

And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. 

The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 

It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. 

All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 

And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Exodus 12:33-42,50-51

Fast forward a bit... to the preparation to the building of the Tabernacle...

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:1-9 

God gives Moses plans for the tabernacle, each piece of furnishings, the tent itself...everything...made of various wood, pieces overlaid with pure gold, stones, fabrics, colors...and even craftsman to accomplish this feat...

The golden Lampstand potentially weighing over 55 pounds...

The plunders, spoils of the Egyptians...all prepared, given in advance for the use of the Israelites’ journey and building of the tabernacle in the wilderness...

When I think of these events...Enslavement, the bondage that we as people in this world endure..we run after manmade gods in our lives, all of which have no real power...we let them...but 

God reaches into our lives seeking to free us from slavery as well, giving us the riches unmeasurable through our Redeemer, Christ...building us into Temples housing the very Holy Spirit of the living God...preparing us for the promised land, in eternity with Him...

Out of bondage...Into the riches...with a learning journey along the way...thank YOU for Your Word  which richly teaches...redeems, frees ....

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:2-3 

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:7-12,14-21

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19