Perhaps a better question is:  Are You There Now?

The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egyptian captivity, culminated by a rescue which included ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea as they fled.  More than one author has noted that, in spite of these miracles involved, it was probably much easier for God to get the Israelites out of Egypt than it was for Him to get Egypt out of the Israelites. Four centuries of being treated like and told their only value as a slave was in how many bricks they could produce certainly took a toll on their self-image.  God sought to repair this partly through Sabbath, which reminded them to rest periodically and remember who they are, and through handing down the creation story found in the first chapter of Genesis, which tells and reminds that mankind is the crowning jewel of His GOOD creation. Many of us may be seemingly trapped in an Egyptian-like culture today—one all wound up in production. It’s all wound up in whether or not I’m skinny enough, I’m smart enough, I have enough possessions, I can impress the right people, I’ve got the right degree, I’ve made it in the right career. We’re slaves to a system of brick-making that we don’t even understand. We need to embrace the assurance from Genesis 1; also, we should each find time to be still and reflect…so we can remember who (and whose) we are.  One ticket out of Egypt, please.   God saw all that He had made and it was VERY GOOD, and there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (from Genesis 1, immediately after the creation of mankind)