Plunder the Egyptians

I’ve always enjoyed the Old Testament concept of "plundering the Egyptians." The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, but God’s plan always prevails! Exodus 12:36 says, "The Lord has made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians." 

So was it 400 years of slavery or 400 years of Egypt saving up for Israel? Sometimes we don’t recognize the significance of this passage. The Israelites experienced 400 years of slavery, but God's people always gain the advantage eventually. Just check out Revelation to know what I mean! Please understand that I’m not minimizing the difficulties of slavery for 400 years. But consider this: The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians, but the Egyptians ended up giving everything back to Israel. So who were truly the masters? Israel was losing for 400 years, but when the game ended they had won! 

That is what this book is about.  I believe that God wants us to plunder the Egyptians. People who don't worship Him have stored up intellectual and financial wealth that can be used for His purposes. Isn't that what happened in Egypt? I think the knowledge the Israelites gained while helping in Egyptian construction projects served them well when it came time to build cities and synagogues! Intellectual plundering. I engage in intellectual plundering all the time when I get ideas from people who don't worship God. I want to redeem the things I learn from physics, chemistry, technology and business and use them to serve in God's Kingdom! It's plundering the Egyptians.