At last the Jews left Egypt after having been there 430 years. The story of the Jews in the wilderness for 40 years was one of the most well known stories. From it we can learn about God’s providence.
Material blessings
Exod 12:35And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed and asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So, like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians!
The Jews were slaves in Egypt. They had practically nothing. Yet before they leave Egypt, God ensured that His people were provided for financially. God’s people need not live like paupers, always lacking. Learn to ask God to bless us financially.
Favor with others
Exod 12:35And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed and asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So, like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians!
The Egyptians had every reason to hate the Jews. They suffered so many plagues and in the last round even lost their firstborn. But yet God is able to make the Egyptians look favorably on the Jews. Is there someone you need to find favor with? Perhaps your boss, colleagues or even enemies. Ask God to help you to find favor with them.
Protection
Exod 14:5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?” they asked. 6 So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot. …10 As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the Lord for help…15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Use your shepherd’s staff—hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground.
God provided protection for His people. The Jews were totally helpless against the well-trained army of Egypt but God Himself fought the battle for them. Do you need God’s protection in your life – against your enemies, the risks in your life, etc? Ask God to give you His protection.
Physical needs
Exod 16:3″Oh, that we were back in Egypt,” they moaned. “It would have been better if the Lord had killed us there! At least there we had plenty to eat. But now you have brought us into this desert to starve us to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. The people can go out each day and pick up as much food as they need for that day.
God is not just interested in blessing and providing for us financially. He is also interested in our daily physical needs. He ensured that the Jews have ample to eat when they were in the wilderness.
Likewise Jesus did not just provide his audience with spiritual food. When they were hungry, Jesus also provided them with physical food.
It is not unspiritual to ask God to provide for our physical needs. Ask God to give you a good job and meet your requirements for physical needs.
Spiritual guidance
Exodus 20
1 Then God instructed the people as follows:
2″I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.
3″Do not worship any other gods besides me.
4″Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. 5You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. 6But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.
7 “Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, 10but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God will give you.
13″Do not murder.
14″Do not commit adultery.
15″Do not steal.
16 “Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 “Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns.”
The famous ten commandments was given to the Jews while they were in the wilderness. God provides us with spiritual guidance so that we can live abundant lives. The spiritual principles given in the Bible are not there just because we have an eccentric God who likes to have things in a certain way. They are there to help us avoid the pitfalls and heartaches in life. It is a tremendous waste if we do not draw on God’s resources to help us to lead our lives right.