Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.
– Exodus 12:40 (NIV)
The Israelites had an on again, off again relationship with God. They swung between the pendulum of God’s judgment and God’s favor, mainly because they became apathetic during prosperous times and more committed and focused during times of judgment. Not unlike most of us today.
This passage tells us that the Israelites were in bondage for 430 years. By any measure, that is a long time. One has to wonder if the Israelites would have thought 430 years of slavery would be a good trade for their pursuits of rebellion and apathy towards God. I dare say, no.
The hidden nature of sin is that it will take us further than we want to go, cost us more than we want to pay, and keep us longer than we want to stay. In the moment, a choice of sin and rebellion may seem like no big deal. Until we look back and ask, “How did I get here?”
God promises to forgive our sins if we confess them, but we are often left to deal with the consequences of sin in this life. The caution given in Scripture is to refrain from using our freedom to sin against God and our fellow man. Why? Because sin, no matter how trivial it may seem, always leads to death and destruction. And it may cost you a price far beyond what you thought it would cost.