What Are You Longing For?
Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor. Exodus 2:11a
Moses was brought up in the splendor of Egypt. He had been raised by a princess of Egypt and trained in Egyptian education and culture. He spoke Egyptian, dressed Egyptian, and walked like an Egyptian. However, internally Moses knew he did not belong in Egypt. Inside, Moses was drawn to the Hebrews his true people.
C.S. Lewis said, “The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.” Moses was not Egyptian, although he lived in Egypt. The same is true for all humans. Man has sought a greater purpose beyond what he currently experiences in his life. The Bible tells us that God has put eternity in all our hearts (Ecc. 3:11). Like Moses, man’s heart seeks belonging, purpose, and, importantly, identity.
The devil knows man and understands this seeking. He cons man into thinking belonging, identity, and purpose are found in Egypt, a type of the world. The devil lures humans into sexually immoral lifestyles, including homosexuality. Life can never be produced from a homosexual lifestyle only death and many lives have been destroyed by it. The devil promises to numb the pain with drugs and alcohol: at least you'll be happy! What a rip off drugs and strong drink are.
It is for this reason Jesus has come. God sent His Son into the world to save that which is lost. He declared, “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10 Belonging, purpose, and identity are found only in Jesus Christ. The word joy means to be satisfied. The psalmist declared, “In Your (God’s) presence is fullness of joy” Psalm 16:11.
It is in Jesus Christ and His kingdom that you and I will experience satisfaction not in sex, not in drugs, not in alcohol. All of those are cheap cons designed to steal, kill, and destroy the life Christ has for you. If today you find yourself like Moses, seeking something more, friend, you will only find that when you allow Christ into your life. It is only then that you will discover what you have been looking for.
“You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — this is the LORD’s declaration” Jeremiah 29:12-14a
Agape,
Frank
Growth In Egypt
“But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them.” – Exodus 1:7 CSB
A human baby spends nine months in the mother’s womb before entering the world. An elephant spends nearly two years in the womb! The womb is a place of safety, comfort, growth, and development. But when there is no more room to grow, the water breaks and the baby comes forth.
Israel entered Egypt as a family of seventy people. Four hundred years later, they would leave as a nation of more than two million. In Egypt, Israel grew in safety and relative comfort. As Pastor David Guzik said in his commentary, “Egypt was like a womb.” I like that. God sent a family to Egypt to preserve them during a famine, and He used that place as a safe haven for them to grow and mature into a nation.
Many times in our lives, the Lord keeps us in a place for a season to do the same with us to grow us and develop us. When we have matured in that “womb” where He has placed us, the water breaks, and it is time to move on. It is important that we do not despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). God is using the place where He has you right now to do a work in you. When the time is right, He will send you forward. Until then, embrace where you are it is by divine design.
Agape, Frank