Every morning we’ve had time set aside for personal prayer and devotions, then a group worship time where we sing, share things that God has shown us, share scripture, etc. A couple days ago, one of the other men, Hugh, shared the Bible passage about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt into the desert.
Here they were… God had clearly shown them miraculous signs, released them from the bondage of slavery, and given them the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. But what happened? They were thrust out of their home, away from everything they ever knew, into complete dependence on God. And what did they do? They complained. “We were better off making bricks,” they said. They preferred to labor in slavery rather than to go forward and take hold of the magnificent promise the Lord had given them! The Lord had guaranteed them victory against the Egyptian army that pursued them… but all the Israelites could say was “we’re not warriors… we’re brick makers”.
How many of us are clinging to our “brick making” past? How many of us are refusing the identity that the Lord wants to give us, because it’s new, different, or challenging? Let us accept the promise and victory that the Lord has already given! Yes, it’s hard, but praise God, that’s what makes it worthwhile! Let us throw off the shackles of fear that would keep us in slavery, making bricks for the rest of our lives. Join me in saying, “Yes, Lord, I willingly go where you lead me; it may be a difficult road to the promised land, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be!”
Exodus 15:11-14 They said to Moses… “Didn’t we say to you… It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
