The Lord told the Israelites to borrow from the Egyptians, but there was no going back or repayment.
Exodus8:27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.
Exo 11:1 And the LORD said unto Moses,…
Exo 11:2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow (to ask, enquire, borrow, beg) of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
Exodus 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled (to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder) the Egyptians.
Why would the Lord instruct the Israelites to borrow gold and silver, knowing they would not be returning to Egypt and thus would not repay what they borrowed?
Two reasons spring to mind:
1) The Israelites let the Egyptians know that they would only travel three days into the wilderness where they would worship their God. I can imagine the uproar when after six, eight, or ten days the Israelites never returned. The pressure the Egyptians must have placed on Pharaoh would have been enormous. Was this part of God’s plan?
Was to it force Pharaoh’s hand into chasing after the Israelites so that the Egyptian army could be destroyed in the sea?
If He hadn’t done it the Egyptians would always have been a thorn in the side of the budding nation of Israel.
2) The second reason has to do with their labor. For hundreds of years, they had slaved for the Egyptians, probably without or with very little recompense.
James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth (that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host).
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
The Lord is awake to what is happening right now and what the future holds. He cares for, protects, and provides for His people.