"I bring my people to Egypt that they too, may be threshed and grounded in the finest powder and may become bread corn for others to use. But remember, though bread, corn is bruised, no one threshes it for ever; only until the bruised and broken grain is ready for its highest use."

When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt God had to make things bad so that they would turn to HIM for redemption. He wanted the strength and nobility in his people to emerge so he could refine them for the future. Through out the Bible, God uses the analogy of refined gold and sliver, threshed wheat, clay in a potter's hand, pruned vines, etc. All symbolizing this refining process that we go through called the Christian walk. All these bruises and wounds we receive, the hot pots we are boiled in to get out the impurities, they are all to purge out you and me and make room for Christ. If we are filled with chaff and impurities we won’t have enough room for Christ in our life. So we must learn to welcome the time we spend in "Egypt". It may be painful for a time, but it doesn’t last forever and after we are through we can serve others by what we have learned. Because nothing God makes is ever wasted. We become the grain that feeds others.

Prayer: God my Father, when I am in "Egypt" in the middle of the threshing floor, or at the mercy of your divine "clippers" as you prune, or in the middle of the melting pot, help me to remember that you are making more room for yourself in me. I am dying to self and letting you reign in my life. Though the fires may hurt and my head may ache from the threshing let me see that somehow you will use this experience to feed others in my life. Lord, if you feel that I need to go to "Egypt" lead the way and I will follow.