We have heard and seen God's plan unfold in successive generations not only for the reconciliation of sibling rivalries, but through it the blessing of countless of unrelated peoples. From all of this one might say God indeed writes straight with crooked lines.

Yesterday's account presented the opportunity for Israelites to come to Egypt. Today, however, we are told that a new Pharaoh, who did not know of Joseph, came to power and the Israelites no longer enjoyed royal favor. In fact, they were deprived of all social status and became slaves. What had began as a dream of opportunity had turned into a nightmare of oppression.

Could it be that God had set them up; that He had sent them as sheep among wolves? Or was God's saving plan still at work?

In his wisdom God saw this purifying experience as a necessary preparation for the Exodus. Prior to their Egyptian refuge, the Israelites had always been a nomadic wandering people with no sense of identity.

Using the Exodus, God formed them into his own special people and through their leader, Moses, he increased the revelation of His covenant with all humanity.

The authors of the Bible inspired by God, saw the meaning of these events only after they had taken place. Do we operate with the same spiritual hindsight, recognizing only later, the great graces God has bestowed on us?

Is it possible that God is preparing us, through difficult times and challenges, for another spiritual journey; another Exodus of sorts from the decadence that marks our society like Rome and Egypt and Corinth in their days?

As a young man St. Benedict fled the decadence of Rome to seek the Lord in solitude. God used him to transform society by creating a whole new system of relationships, not only for the cloistered monks and nuns, but also, for lay oblates, women and men continuing to live in the world but putting into practice the motto of St. Benedict: Ora et labora - Prayer and work. These are the two great portals to eternal life.