God promises that He will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward Israel so that when the people leave, they will not go empty-handed. The word favorably disposed — the Hebrew chen, grace or favor — is the same word used when Joseph found favor in the eyes of Potiphar and of the jailer. God will arrange the emotional and social conditions for this transfer of wealth. It is not theft; it is compensation — four hundred years of unpaid labor being returned in another form. Psalm 105:37 says God brought Israel out with silver and gold. This is the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 15:14: afterward they will come out with great possessions. The plundering of Egypt is not an afterthought; it was written into the covenant before Moses was born. God's promises are comprehensive enough to include the practical: when you leave, you will not leave poor.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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