Easter always makes me think of hope. The darkness and fear of the Friday before gave way to glorious joy on the day of resurrection and it reminds me there is always hope. No matter how dark things get. I lived a Jewish life for twenty-seven years. My favorite Jewish holiday has always been Passover. Not only is the food amazing, but the story is so filled with hope.
Passover celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt where they were enslaved. Moses led them away through a parted sea into the desert where they wandered aimlessly for forty years. FORTY YEARS! How can that be a hopeful story? For me…hope comes as they stand on the dry sea bed. They are no longer slaves…they are rushing headlong toward the freedom they have so desperately begged God for. But yet, they aren’t quite through. There are walls of water to either side that could come crashing down on them at any moment. It was through the hope of freedom and faith in God that they were able to forge onward.
Can you imagine? Taking a moment…just glancing from side to side at those walls of water? Marveling at the dry ground beneath their feet? Perhaps catching glimpses of the fishes looking all the world like an aquarium? What magic that must have been! They hurried forward with great anticipation, only to find themselves meandering through the desert with no comforts or meat or anything else they were accustomed to. They felt their lives were better when they were slaves. At least they knew where their next meal was coming from. Then God brought them manna and they got bored with that pretty quick.
It was Moses that held the space for their hope. He knew what was coming, and he knew he couldn’t make them see that it was only a matter of time till they would be truly free. Sometimes that happens in our own lives. We see progress…forward motion…only to be met with obstacles that feel insurmountable. There is always someone holding our hope for us…a loved one, perhaps. A dear friend. The one person who will always hold our hope is Jesus. He has our backs at every turn, no matter what.
We enjoyed our Easter Sunday. We worshiped together at home. We thanked God for the many blessings He has given us…especially His son. We spoke to family. We thanked God for their good health. We enjoyed the warmth outside and the sunshine and flowers and birds. We thanked God for his creation. We cooked a really great pot roast and thanked God for His amazing provision in our lives. It was a really good day that filled me with hope.
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“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV