Egypt to Canaan

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Sometimes when we read the Old Testament, we might wonder what the centuries-long story of God and Israel has to do with us as individuals today. But soon by revelation you will discover their physical journey from Egypt to Canaan establishes the foundational pattern of redemption that resonates throughout the bible.

Actually, the connection isn’t merely historical or theological; it’s deeply personal. The Bible presents Israel’s journey as a pattern, a “shadow” that finds its fulfillment in Christ and becomes a living reality for every believer. (Colossians 2:15-17).

Israelites story begins in bondage in Egypt, where they suffered under oppressive slavery. God then brought about their deliverance through the passover and the dramatic crossing of the Red Sea, demonstrating His power to save. Following their liberation, the Israelites entered a period of wilderness wandering and testing, where their faith was refined and their dependence on God was deepened. During this wilderness season, they received God’s covenant and law at Mount Sinai, establishing their identity as His chosen people. Finally, their journey culminated in crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, where they entered into the rest and inheritance God had prepared for them.

Their story is really our story. God always begins. He moved toward His people before they ever reached for Him. He saw their pain in Egypt and came down to rescue them, then He taught them how to live as free people. That is how grace works in us too. We do not begin by striving toward Him. We begin because He has already drawn near. Our obedience becomes a response of gratitude, not a transaction.

The wilderness was part of the journey. It was never meant to be Israel’s permanent home, it was a passageway. Likewise, don’t settle in your spiritual wilderness. Keep moving forward, even when progress seems slow. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Moses reminded the Israelites that God led them there to reveal what was in their hearts and to teach them trust. When we face seasons that feel dry or uncertain, we can remember that God is still leading. These places often show us where our confidence really lies. They become the ground where our faith grows. And faith is something we keep choosing, day after day.

The Israelites’ journey was physical and national; yours is spiritual and personal. But the same God who guided them with a pillar of cloud and fire guides you by His Spirit. The same God who fed them with manna sustains you with the Bread of Life. The same God who brought them through the waters of judgment brings you through the waters of baptism into new life.

You are walking the same journey of redemption, just at a different point in salvation history. You’re not reading about someone else’s God; you’re discovering the pattern of how your God relates to His people. The wilderness may be challenging, the enemies formidable, and the destination sometimes obscured, but the God who brought Israel to the promised land will bring you safely home.

Kay Alli