“For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on  all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.” (Exodus 12:12)

The Exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt begins with a promise from Yahweh given through Moses: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…” (Exodus 3:7, 8)

He follows up this promise with plague after plague after plague–9 to be exact–by the time we get to Chapter 12.

The emotions of the people of Israel must have gone up and down like a yo-yo with every plague.

Pharaoh promises to let them go. Pharaoh hardens his heart. Pharaoh refuses to let them go. This cycle has been repeated 9 times already.

Will the cycle ever be broken? When will God’s promise be fulfilled–finally?

Can you relate to the people of Israel at all?

Are there promises that you have received from God that are yet to be fulfilled?

Have you been on a similar roller-coaster ride of emotions?

I am sensing that most, if not all of us, are in that place, at least on one particular promise.

Personally, Sulojana and I are still waiting for the fulfillment of words spoken over us by anointed prophetic voices that were clearly meant for the calendar year 2012.

11 months have come and gone. Still no sign of their fulfillment. Granted, there have been glimpses here and there. There have been hints. False labour pains, but no birth.

And, yes, we have been preparing ourselves in every way that we know how to receive these promises in their finished form.

This is a critical time when we are faced with a number of choices.

We could be tempted to give up on their fulfillment at this late hour.

We may doubt the accuracy of the word and question the hearing ability of the prophetic voice that delivered the promise.

We may even conclude that it is not God’s will.

This is why the Lord has placed before us this verse from Exodus 12:12 on this first day of The 12:12:12 Fast.

He wants to remind us that “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1)

He wants to give us hope that the promise can still be fulfilled before the end of this year.

He wants us to know that He can change our circumstances overnight.

He can eliminate our enemies in one fell swoop.

He can bring about a sudden change of heart in those who are impeding our progress.

That is what He promised the people of Israel through Moses.

God would keep His word and do His part. They were now expected to do their part, which included painting their doorposts with the blood of the Passover lamb (as found in Exodus 12:3-11).

Did the promise reach its fulfillment? You bet! The 10th and final plague was all it took for the yo-yo to turn into a yeah-yeah, Yahweh!

This is why I encourage you to take inventory right now.

Make a list of all the promises that are yet to be fulfilled in your life now.

Include prayers that remain unanswered up to this point.

Ask the Holy Spirit which ones you should bring before the God of the Exodus.

Believe that what He did for His people way back then He will do for you now.

Do I hear a loud Amen?