Passover is celebrated by Jews all over the world this week.
I see it as a story that resonates very strongly in the contemporary world and a powerful metaphor that explains the process of transformation.
To summarize, the Israelites had settled in Egypt, grew and prospered. Their strength threatened the Egyptian rulers who enslaved them for 400 years. The Jews labored under oppressive conditions until their God responded. Led by Moses and aided by a series of miracles, they were able to flee.
The Red Sea was parted just long enough for the Israelites to get across--the pursuing Egyptians were drowned when the waters closed in.
But then the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.
Geographically, the Sinai Peninsula is not so large that one would need 40 years to cross, even by foot.
So why were the Israelites delayed?
They needed time to adapt to becoming a free nation. At first they had the attitudes and mindset of a captive people kept under oppressive circumstances. It wasn't enough to free them. They had to learn how to live in freedom.
It is interesting to see what happened during their journey. First, it was not a beeline to the promised land--it was long and circuitous. Second, they need various kinds of assistance to survive until they made the transition. They were led by balls of smoke and fire. Manna from heaven kept them alive in an inhospitable desert environment.
There was backsliding. As Moses went up to Mt. Sinai to receive the tablets from God many Israelites reverted to worshipping a golden calf.
Finally, Moses, himself, never got to set foot in the promised land.
But isn't transformation much like the Passover story? Oftentimes, it takes a long time for a situation to deteriorate to the point where you are ready to make the break. And oftentimes, you need the help of others to "slay the dragons."
And breaking out is not the end of the story. You have to learn to deal with new realities. Prison provides you with food, water and a place to sleep although the conditions may be wretched. Outside, you have to find a way to obtain them for yourself.
You may backslide, you may feel fear. It can take longer than you expect to grow out of the learned helplessness you may have experienced in your former environment. Like Moses, old attitudes and an old you may have to die off before you can truly thrive in freedom.
There is much to be learned by the Passover story: the struggle of the newly liberated Israelites to become free.
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