I was just reading Stephen's answer to the Sanhedrin, when the people were falsely testifying against him, because they were jealous of his wisdom and power. He gives a wonderful account of God's story through his people, beginning with Abraham. At one point he says"This is that Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own people. He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.
"But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
(Acts 7:37-39)
When the Israelites were in Egypt under the new king, they were treated barbariously! They were slaves, making bricks in the hot sun, day after day and were even stripped of receiving the materials they needed to do so and had to scour for materials on their own, yet produce the same number of bricks (or it may have been double, I can't remember!). The Bible also says that the new Pharoah made them "throw out their newborn babies so they would die!" What a life! Then, God rescues them miraculously (parting the Red Sea for them!) and gets them out of there. This does not sound like something I would ever want to experience, let alone go back to!
So, the verses above in Acts got me to thinking about things I am grumbling about in my heart. When God has moved me to a new place, do I really want to go back? Or should I trust in His wisdom...
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
The things I grumble about (in my heart or out loud) are really a blow to the face of God Himself (and rejecting him). Sure, sometime or something in my past might seem more apealing to me-- definitely nothing like the Israelites in Egypt, but I cannot see as God does. Maybe the situation was spiritually equal to slavery in Egypt or spiritually way backwards from where God has me now.
Anyway... I've kind of gotten off on a tangent and don't know if I am really getting my thoughts across. I was just froze when I read the words, "Instead, they rejected him and
in their hearts turned back to Egypt." (Acts 7:39b). Am I missing God's best in some areas of my life, because I am discontent and in my heart have turned back to Egypt?
2 comments:
I checked in on your blog to see if you posted anything about your trip and found this very profound message. So true that our hearts "return to Egypt". We actualy watched "The Prince of Egypt" (not the most biblically accurate film, but good none the less)today. At the end I was thinking "I can't believe all that God did to rescue the Israelites from Bondage and once they get to the wilderness they will be wishing to go back." I also remember watching the movie at the end and seeing the Israelites running through the parted Red Sea with terror because the Egyptian army was close behind and again started thinking "what are you afraid of?" "God has gotten you this far, He not going to fail you now!" Ahhh...How I need to remind myself that!
Well anyway...thanks for getting me thinking.
Oh and I see by the time of your post that you are still not back on Indiana time:-)
Good thoughts! I totally agree! Something to chew on...
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