So You’re Going Back to Egypt?

After the Israelites left Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land, every time they encountered an obstacle or challenge, they wanted to go back to Egypt. They sang the same song when they had no water, when they had no food, when they got tired of the food God provided and other instances.  

But lest we become too hard on the Israelites are not we often tempted to do the same thing? The Lord allows a difficult circumstance in our life and our hearts go back to the days when we weren’t persecuted for our faith, or we did not have to be concerned with spiritual warfare and do battle with our sin. In effect, we long to go back to “Egypt,” which is a symbol of the world in Scripture.  

Somehow in our discomfort, we totally forget about the misery, the bondage, and the heartache of our life before Christ and only remember the so-called “good times.” How deceived we can be! 

In the book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul encourages the Jewish believers, who were being persecuted for their faith in Christ, that they needed to persevere in their faith because “…He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).  

Men, I don’t know what you are going through right now, but I know that our God is faithful. He is not trying to tempt you or cause you to fall, God is drawing you near to His Son and making you more like Christ. He is “completing the good work He started in you” when you came to faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). So, “don’t throw away your confidence” in your Savior; “it will be richly rewarded “ (Hebrews 10:35). 

The only thing back in “Egypt” is slavery and death! Paul encourages us to “work out your own salvation in fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).  

God WILL see to it that you reach the finish line with honor!  Trust Him! Remember, it is always too soon to quit!