Why was Israel separated from God in Egypt?
The sin of Joseph’s brothers, who sold him into Egypt, caused spiritual separation between God and His covenant people. They ended up in Egyptian bondage without an altar, sacrifice, or worship, totally alienated, so God had to buy them back and redeem them.
Les explains that Exodus is the book of redemption. Israel was God’s covenant people, but because of the sin of the brothers when they sold Joseph into Egypt, they became spiritually separated from God. They ended up down in Egypt in bondage, without an altar, without a sacrifice, without a worship, and totally alienated. Therefore God would have to buy them back—He would have to redeem them.