Real-Life Moments From ExodusEsimerkki

God plans ahead of time

In my 20s, I took a short-term job in addition to my full-time work. I was looking forward to the extra money. However, for the next four months, I ended up with unexpected expenses that were about equal to the amount I made. That’s when it dawned on me that God provided ahead of time.

God did that for the Israelites, too. A few months after he freed them from Egypt, God instructed them to build a tent church. That’s when Moses told the people God’s command:“From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze”(Exodus 35:5).

These people had been slaves. How did they have gold and silver? This is where God provided ahead of time. When Moses was going to tell Pharaoh about a tenth plague, God told Moses to give the Israelites a message too:“‘Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.’(The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)”(Exodus 11:2,3).

Oh . . . that’s where the people got gold and silver! God knew there would be a tabernacle. He knew he would ask for an offering, so he led the Egyptians to give their gold and silver away—ahead of time.

He did it for me. He did it for the Israelites. He does it for you, too.