SATURDAY March 11, 2023
Really, Back to Bondage?
“This is he [Moses] who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ ”
Acts 7:38-40
After a mighty deliverance, God’s people walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The people rejoiced. Although God provided for His people in the wilderness, it did not take long before they began to murmur and complain. They rejected Moses as their leader. In fact, the children of Israel wanted to go back to Egypt! They thought they had it so good there:
Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:4-6).
Really, back to bondage? No doubt the Israelites were greatly influenced by the mixed multitude who left Egypt with them. What about all the hardships they suffered in Egypt? They had been slaves, now they were free! Did they forget their cruel taskmaster who made them labor to build Egyptian cites?
Some Christians are like the children of Israel. They are influenced by their worldly friends who want them to return back to the world with them. What has the world ever done for you? Remember when you were in the world? You were destroying your life! Satan had you in bondage, refusing to let you go! God delivered you from your sin. He is doing a work in your life, molding and shaping you for what He wants to do in the future.
The Christian journey may not be easy, but God is with you, making sure you have everything you need. Why not persevere?
God never said that their journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.
~Max Lucado~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
