There are many times when we see life as difficult, even tragic -personal sadness, community crisis, national disasters, and international conflicts. The times at the beginning of Exodus were no less tragic for Israel - a people enslaved in Egypt - oppressed and prone to bitterness. God's ancient promise to bless the world through them was largely forgotten.--But not by God who quietly, but purposefully, begins the process of redeeming His people through largely unnoticed actions- the birth of a baby and the engagement of weak and frail people. As those who have been liberated by a greater 'exodus' through the wonderful and full redemption in Jesus Christ we too need to trust in the fulfilment of God's unfailing , sovereign purposes of love in spite of everything that would suggest otherwise.