Acts 7
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
The Israelites experienced being led through the red sea, fed in the wilderness, etc. They experienced God’s wonders and mighty working, but there came a day when they rejected God’s word through Moses. Moses received living Words from God to pass on to Israel.
In the beginning they rejoiced and were glad for the deliverance given by God through Moses. They followed God’s Word wholeheartedly. But they soon turned, rebelled and complained. Eventually, the Israelites asked Aaron to make them gods. They wanted to be in control. They no longer wanted to wait on God for His leading. They no longer lived in simple dependence on God, as a child depends on his father, and accepts his father’s leading. They wanted to be acknowledged and seen as well.
This is the danger for each Christian. We find it wonderful when God delivers us from Egypt (sin). In the beginning we are eager to receive help from God’s servants. We have God’s Living Word, the Bible, in our hands. We have people that expound God’s Word. There are many preachers that preach the Living Word of God. People know it is the truth – the Word of God, but they refuse to obey, because they want to go their own way. They interpret God’s Word so that it suits them.
Of course we can be lead and guided by God, but if we start to reject authority, and become disrespectful, it is dangerous. This is what we often find amongst Christians – “I only listen to God”. Such a person becomes so big and great in his own eyes, that he cannot be corrected anymore. Such a person start to do things on his own. He thinks he no longer needs help, guidance, teaching, etc.
Let us always be a people who are able to accept God’s Word. Let us be open to God’s Word, that He might attain His purpose in our lives.
How is it possible that a person being delivered from sin and the world, on his way to Canaan, after a time turns back to sin and the world, and desires the things of the world? We could be on our way to Canaan, being delivered from Egypt, yet our hearts turn back to Egypt and desire the things of the world! Remember the joy you experienced when God delivered you from Egypt. God has taken you out of Egypt, but where is your heart today? Do you still long for the sinful life you lived, in Egypt?
Yes, you might not be physically in the worldly places anymore, but where is your heart? We must get Egypt out of our hearts – where we refuse to submit to God’s Word. As God’s wrath came upon Israel because of this, so too will Egypt in our hearts kindle His wrath towards us. Only Joshua and Caleb, who did not take Egypt with them in their hearts, entered Canaan.
Let us search ourselves if anything from Egypt is in our hearts. May we lay everything on the altar. Let Jesus reign supreme in our lives.
What is holding you back from a full surrender to Jesus? Is there still anything of Egypt in your life? Jesus has accomplished a full salvation which He bought on Calvary. If we let the Lord destroy everything of Egypt in our lives, we will conquer the world. Anything from Egypt hinders God’s glory in our lives, and the heathen are not drawn to God. Allow the Lord Jesus to remove it by coming to His cross, admitting, confessing and forsaking the things of Egypt in your life.