Shemot “Names” Exodus 1:1–6:1 Isaiah 27:6–28:13; 29:22–23 Mark 1–2 In Our Lifetime? Many years had gone by since the death of Joseph. So much had changed through those years. At first the Hebrews were held in a place of honor because of what Joseph had done for Egypt and its people. As the years passed though, the memory of Joseph gradually faded and contempt for the Hebrews began to creep in. As the Hebrews grew in number, contempt gave way to fear and suspicion. The new Pharaoh became increasingly concerned about their numbers and their ability to take over his kingdom. Now after hundreds of years, the Hebrews’ respected position had become one of slavery. They were in bondage to a harsh taskmaster. Daily life had become very difficult. It was now a harsh routine that left little or no time to consider the past or dream of the future. Daily tasks overcame future hope. The Hebrews knew Egypt would not be home forever. HaShem had told Jacob his family would go to Egypt, but would not remain there. (Genesis 46:4) The only thing HaShem had "forgotten" to tell them was how long they would be there. Four hundred years has been a long time. Many events have happened in those years. Thousands have been born and died. "A deliverer would certainly come, but it had not happened in the previous generation, or the one before that. Why would it happen in the present one?" "Maybe he would come after our lifetimes, but not now." These were all thoughts that ran through the minds of the Hebrew in the late, quiet hours of the night. A deliverer would surely come, because God had told them so, but time and daily life have a habit of blocking out those thoughts. Present day tasks fight for and overcome future hope if not guarded. A deliverer will come and in fact, for us today, has come! That is the message of our day! It is a message that must be guarded at all times. It is a message, which gives us hope and joy and allows us to be lights in a darkening world. This deliverer has come to redeem us from a life of bondage, to provide salvation. He has come to teach us a new life of freedom, Torah. He will come to bring forth full redemption and restore all things with a New Heaven and a New Earth as was enjoyed in the days of Adam and Eve. When will it all come to pass? None of us know for sure. Many have gone before us in the last two-thousand years, “knowing” it would be in their generation, yet have died without seeing the promise fulfilled. Many today say, "Where is the promise of His coming? It surely will not be now." They forget that there will be a generation who sees the promise of our Father fulfilled in their lifetimes. It will come on many unaware. Seemingly insignificant events of daily life will pass them by without notice, and redemption will come as a surprise to them. A simple basket floating down the river, being caught in the bulrushes, a baby's cry or a stinky diaper, a long lost brother returning from the backside of the desert into Egypt – these were all signs of redemption to a people who had forgotten or pushed into the future God's promises. They found themselves so consumed with the daily life; they were not prepared for promises to be fulfilled. How are we different? Are we prepared? What signs are we missing daily? How can we open our eyes to see? Can we learn to hear clearly what HaShem is saying to us? To those who are watching and listening today, the signs are on every corner – signs that tell us to prepare, for the promised redemption may be even at this moment returning, not from the backside of the desert, but from preparing a place for you and for me.