Christian Living

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‘And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt saying “… as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him”’.

Acts 7:39-40

Today, I begin a two part series on the topic ‘And in their hearts, they turned back to Egypt’ It is a message that seeks to draw our attention to how our hearts can lure us back to the things we have been delivered from and the danger of giving in to that lure.

Genesis 19:26, Matthew 9:62 and Hebrews 10:38-39 is clear on how God regards the act of turning back from His calling or will.

God’s position is understandable though when you consider the possible mindset of the one who turns back. To turn back in a journey we know to be God’s will is a sign of discontentment with God’s plan or time-table or a mere lack of confidence in His ability to bring us into the fullness of His promise.

But Acts 7:39 does not speak of a literal turning back. Rather, it speaks of a turning back in the heart. There is no record of any of those who left Egypt physically returning to Egypt. However, their continuous yearnings for the provisions of Egypt meant that in their hearts, they had turned back to Egypt.

The turning back of the heart is less discernible than the outward turning back because it is an inward rebellion that might not result in a physical return to the place of bondage. In the sight of God however, to keep ‘Egypt’ as an option is to turn back to ‘Egypt’.

The heart. Not a very dependable part of self (See Jeremiah 17:9) and yet the seat of all human decisions. And because of its susceptibility to do both good and evil, it is a part of self that should never be allowed to function outside of the Word of God.

Psalm 78 describes Israel as ‘a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God’, who ‘tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy’ and who did not ‘believe in God nor trust in His salvation’

With a heart as described above, it is no surprise that Israel would time after time scorn God’s provision and state their preference for what captivity in Egypt could have provided.

Though our salvation represents deliverance from ‘Egypt’, yet our problem, as was Israel’s, is not Egypt but self. God will deal with our ‘Egypt’ as He dealt with Pharaoh, his horses and his chariots. What we must fear is not Egypt, but our own inability to let our hearts let go of all that ‘Egypt’ represents and offers.

Between the time of our deliverance from ‘Egypt’ and the full manifestation of God’s promise is a season often described as the ‘wilderness’. It is a time when we might find God’s provision (Manna) not as suitable as what we used to have (the onions and the leeks of Egypt).

It is also a time, when we, just like Israel would be tempted to ask what has become of God and the glorious promises we received at our salvation. And it is here that our hearts are most prone to be tempted to turn back.

I refer:

• to that season after that we have heard the Word and turned away from that ‘extra’ income earned from accepting bribes and from other ways we are not proud to say, we have to make do with financial and material provisions and a lifestyle that is less than what earned us the respect of many.

• to that season after that we have walked away from a pre-marital lifestyle that does not glorify God, we forfeit the option of ending our spinster/bachelor days learning rather to make do with good friends and family while we wait for God to give to us His choice husband/wife;

• to that season when after that we have received the Holy Spirit, we renounce the tendency to lie, control, deceive and manipulate people and circumstance to get what we want choosing rather to make do with what truth and sincerity will deliver.

The analogy is not exhaustive.

Israel cried to be delivered from Egypt. And as Christians:

a. Whenever we cry to God to make us a sanctuary, pure and holy, we literally ask to be delivered from unrighteous and ungodly living;

b. Whenever we cry to God for the grace to walk in unfeigned love, we ask to be delivered from hatred, bitterness and every form of strife.

c. Whenever we cry to God for humility, we ask to be delivered from pride, self-exaltation or boast and haughtiness;

d. Whenever we cry to God for the grace to be obedient to Him, we literally are asking to be delivered from disobedience, rebellion and a self-seeking life;

e. Whenever we ask God for the grace to live the truth we know, we ask to be delivered from lying, dishonesty, deceitfulness, craftiness and cunning living;

f. Whenever we cry to God for the grace to fulfil purpose, we ask to be delivered from selfish ambition, distractions, broken focus, double-mindedness and lack of commitment to His will for our lives;

g. Whenever we cry to the Lord for grace to bridle our tongues, we are ask to be delivered from gossiping, slandering and all forms of godless chatter;

h. Whenever we cry to God for the grace to walk in self-control, we ask to be
delivered from lasciviousness and a life driven by fleshly lusts and desires.

I have gone to this length to show that ‘Egypt’ is not only a place we were in as unbelievers, but a place we run the risk of returning to by the very desires or cravings we permit even after we have become born again.

In the concluding part of this article, we would examine why any one would opt to return to the place of bondage. We would also look at the consequences of allowing our hearts to dwell on ‘Egypt’s’ provision and how to keep our hearts from turning back to captivity.

Shalom!

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