The Promised Land

“Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ And they said to one another, ‘Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.’”

~Numbers 14:1-4

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for more than 400 years before Moses and Aaron led them from their captors, across the desert to the promised land. Of course, they complained and grumbled the entire way, which is why it took them 40 years of wandering before they reached the Jordan River and could see the land of milk and honey. Then they heard about the people who lived in the land and were terrified, so they grumbled some more and wanted to dump their leaders, find new ones and go back to Egypt.

It seems ridiculous to us now. Why on earth would they want to go back to the slavery they endured when freedom and prosperity was right in front of them? But it’s human nature to return to what once was, even if it’s not good for us. I’ve seen people leave behind their addictions, toxic relationships, prison, bad company and worse, only to go right back to their life of slavery.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end (Hebrews 3:12-14).”

Sharing in the salvation of Christ is our deliverance from lives of sin and sorrow. We are set free from the things of the world and are brought to the Promised Land, which is eternal life. But we must continue in the promise of redemption, and not turn back to the life we led that was taking us to hell.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).”

Read Romans 9-12

©2018 Marie McGaha