Nothing Is Wasted

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, this month shall be for you the beginning of months. It should be the first month of the year for you.” Exodus 12:1-2

In Exodus chapter 12 we find the Israelites have been in slavery for 430 years. Moses and Aaron have been asking Pharaoh to let them go and God has brought many plagues upon Egypt. In verses one and two of chapter 12 the Lord speaks to Moses and Aaron and declares a new beginning in the midst of their slavery.

If you haven’t read Exodus chapter 12, I urge you to do so. It is a beautiful story of God‘s redemption of the Israelites and a foreshadow of what Jesus would do for all of us.

“ Then they shall take some of the blood (from the lamb) and put it on the two door posts and lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They should eat the flesh of the lamb that night roasted on the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Ex. 12:7-8

Leaven is another word for yeast. If you take flour and water, knead it well and leave it in a cool place for a long time, the dough will rise. This process will speed up if you save a little dough each time you bake it, to add to your next batch. This reserve is called a ‘starter.’ It is a good way to preserve yeast that makes good bread. Once the yeast gets into the new lump, it spreads throughout the lump.

So, we can see that yeast bread involves a lot of work and reliance on our past bread making. Making unleavened bread is much easier: once the flour and water are mixed, the bread is ready to bake in a short time. There is no ‘starter’ from yesterday, so unleavened bread has no past. It is a new beginning!

“In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste.“ Exodus 12:11

The symbolism of the unleavened bread and the people being dressed and ready and eating in haste is extraordinary! Every single detail has meaning and purpose. God is definitely in the details. Nothing is wasted.

When I read the Old Testament I am always blown away by the things God does and how much he loves and forgives over and over again. He always keeps his promises. Many times it seems to take longer than we expect, but he is always working and the result is redemption!

Scripture assures my hope and teaches me to be patient and wait on the Lord. It encourages me to look at the little details in my own life and try to find the truth and lessons that are tucked in to them. Nothing is wasted.

Prayer: Lord thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for Jesus! Please make me strong and my heart take courage as I wait for you to work out the details of my life. Please help me see the truths and lessons tucked into those details.