The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

I am fascinated by the comment that: “Many other people went up with them” (See ex.9:20). These were Egyptians.

There is always a danger that we play at church – just going through the motions. But where the people of God are most genuinely the people of God, two things are likely to happen: a.) they will be hated and persecuted; b.) outsiders will be attracted to the spiritual reality evident in the church; they will be drawn to the presence of God among the people of God. It’s a bit of a paradox really, because these things seem to be moving in opposite directions, but they are two sides of the same coin.

A few years ago, I was interviewed for a Christian radio programme. I didn’t know what questions were coming my way, but I had a clear and definite and immediate answer when asked, ‘What do you most want to see as a local church pastor?’ My instinctive, from the gut reaction was, ‘To see people who are not Christians become Christians.’ There is nothing I want more.

PRAYER: Lord, may it be that ‘many other people’ join us on this great pilgrimage you have called us to.