God’s battle plan begins with Adam and so far in this series it has been his plan up to the children of Israel. God’s plan is both simple and complex.
After the night of the Passover, Pharaoh was done with Israel. In anger, Pharaoh ordered the children of Israel to get out. This was an immediate change in Israeli life.
The children of Israel had spent 400 years as slaves to Egypt. They knew no other life. Now their life is in upheaval. Before the Passover they packed their stuff, had their shoes on, and their staff. On the morning after Passover they were leaving Egypt. But where were they going to go? What would they need to survive? What if?
It begins with the numbers of people that will travel. According to the Bible it is 600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand) men not including children. (Exodus 12:37). There are many calculations that can bring us to a general estimate. If we take one child per man, even as a low range estimate we have 1.2 million persons. Add another 600,000 women we would have a low range estimate of 1.8 million persons. Of course we can add another group of people that were not circumcised. This group can include Israeli, Egyptians, and every other Gentile. What we know is that at least 600,000 men began the journey.
Supplies for a group this size, there would need include food, water, live stock, and tools. God provided the food in terms of unleavened bread. A package of crackers will survive for several months. Yeast rolls will at best survive less than a week. Yeast, or other leavening agents can produce deadly results. But food is not the most important supply. A short term need is water. Without water you will die in hours.
They were not short supplies. In fact, the Egyptians had provided money in terms of jewels, gold, silver, and clothing. We may not think of it today, but things of value would be needed by everyone who traveled. When food or water becomes scarce, money becomes one way of trade with merchants or bandits along the way.
What was the goal? God’s short term goal is the promise of the land of Canaan. Moses’s goal was the promised land of Canaan. The children of Israel had multiple goals, including staying alive, not being killed by Egyptians, a better life, and for a few following God.
God teaches us what we need.
Part II is the difficulty.
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