SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1220

“After Egypt”

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. – Exodus 20:2

The Lord performed a mighty work in delivering the nation of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. Many miracles were performed, not the least of which was the parting of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through the waters – the same waters that ultimately defeated the pursuing Egyptian army.

The Israelites walked with God, being led by His presence in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, yet for some reason they rebelled against the Lord and preferred the certainty of the misery of slavery in Egypt over the perceived misery of the uncertainty that was ahead of them. Many failed to grow in their faith and trust in God and perished in the desert destined to never to enter the promised land.

Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. – Isaiah 36:6

It is far too easy for us to ‘arm-chair quarterback’ and critique the actions of the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. Rather, the Scripture record of the Exodus should prompt us to examine our own ‘after Egypt’ walk with God.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…; For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:8-9

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (chapter 10 verses 6-12) cautions us to take heed of our ‘after Egypt’ walk with the Lord:

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. – 1 Corinthians 10:6

There is no escaping the fact that our flesh desires evil.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5

In our ‘after Egypt’ walk with the Lord, we must remain diligent in curbing our sin nature.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. – Colossians 3:5

Do not be idolaters as some of them were …- 1 Corinthians 10:7

Examine your daily walk with the Lord. Are you guarding your heart from the idolatry and evil of the world? The worldly things that we place our trust in are empty and without life. We become like them when we turn to them instead of to the Lord.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. – Psalm 135:15-18

We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. – 1 Corinthians 10:8

Sexual immorality is a root of so much sin and harm in our society. Marriages are destroyed and families are fragmented by sexual indiscretion. Our walk with the Lord should be continual and close, without compromise with the lustful temptations that are all around us in this world.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. – 1 Corinthians 6:18

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. – 1 Corinthians 10:9-10

Do you find yourself grumbling against God because you do not have certain things or circumstances are not to your liking. Beware of covetousness which breeds discontent. Learn to trust in God’s perfect plan for you and know that He works all things for your good.

… for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Philippians 4:11-13; Romans 8:28

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. – 1 Timothy 6:6-9

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. – 1 Corinthians 10:11-12

Like the nation of Israel being delivered out of Egypt, we too were delivered from bondage and slavery to sin when we received salvation through Jesus. We passed through the waters of baptism in Christ and our name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16

Far too many of us fail to walk by the Spirit in our ‘after Egypt’ born-again experience. We fail to live an abundant and full life on earth characterized by joy, contentment, and spiritual strength. We fail to enter this ‘promised land’ because we choose to compromise our Christian walk with a corrupt and evil world.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4

May you remain continually, and without compromise, in the presence of Jesus in your ‘after Egypt’ Christian life.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11