We’re Not In Egypt Anymore!

We’re Not In Egypt Anymore!

For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs. But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heavens: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. (Deuteronomy 11:10-12)

Israel had strong reasons to believe in God and obey His commands. God demonstrated His love for them by a parade of mighty miracles that they witnessed. In spite of all of this, the children of Israel still had trouble remaining faithful. Yet, God had a requirement. Moses reminded the people that there was a relation of obedience to the blessing. Yahweh’s blessing in the Promised Land is only for the obedient people. After reminding them of the pass, Moses than turns his attention to the future. He tells the people, “the land you are entering to take over, is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the You’re your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end”.(NIV).

What a great future would befall the children of Israel after all they had been through in Egypt. The only stipulation they needed to concern themselves with, was OBEDIENCE! Very few of us have seen such dramatic miracles, so this may make it a little more difficult for us to obey God, and remain faithful. However, we still have a great account of these great miracles. It is called the Bible! Reading this written record of God’s acts throughout history, should serve for us a panoramic view of miracles Israel saw, and even those they didn’t see. When we look at lessons from the past, instructions for the present, and glimpses into the future, we gain opportunity to strengthen our faith in God.

I was praying about a situation that needed some immediate attention. I was crying out and almost to the point of begging God not to allow this situation to be as in times past… when I heard the Lord say: “You are not in Egypt anymore”. What God was saying to me through this scripture is that just like in times past when His people needed Him to come through, He always did. He than begin to show me through His word that if I would obey Him…love Him with all my heart…and fully obey me. I would not have to work as if I was still in bondage under heavy taskmasters. He would be the one to supply every need, on His terms, without any sweat or human efforts of mine. It reminded me of the movie The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy said to Toto…”Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”. Bondage…hard taskmasters…irrigating by foot has been replaced with trust and obedience to God. We are entering into our promise land. We are not in Egypt anymore!