“ They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. “ –Nehemiah 9:17
For 430 years, the Israelites suffered under the harsh rule of Egypt. When God sent Moses to lead them out of captivity, they should have been overjoyed. They had prayed for deliverance and God answered! But instead of being grateful, they complained. When faced with difficulties in the wilderness, many longed to return to Egypt. Even though it was a place of bondage, it was familiar and—to them—familiarity seemed safer than the “uncertainty” of God’s promises.
How often do we do the same? We cry out for God to bring change to our lives, to lead us into something new. But when the journey gets difficult, we hesitate. We romanticize the past, even the parts that weren’t good for us, simply because they were comfortable. Instead of walking forward in faith, we retreat back to what we know, even if it means settling for less than what God has for us.
The Israelites were meant to enter the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, but their unwillingness to trust God kept them wandering in the wilderness for forty years. How many times do we miss out on God’s best for our lives because things are more difficult than we expected? The road to freedom isn’t always easy. It requires faith, perseverance, and complete trust in God.
Jesus calls us to a life of faith, not fear. In Luke 9:62, He says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” When God calls us forward, we can’t afford to look back. The enemy will try to convince us that life was easier before we followed God’s path. And that might be true, but nothing in “Egypt” is worth going back to. The chains may be familiar, but they’re still chains.
We have to ask ourselves: Are there areas in life where we’re clinging to the past instead of trusting God for the future? Are we resisting change because it feels uncomfortable? God has a Promised Land for each of us—a place of freedom, purpose, and blessing. But we have to trust Him to lead us there…and to keep leading us when things get difficult. The journey might be tough, but the Promised Land He has for us is worth it.
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