Never Return to Egypt

"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!"

Isaiah 31:1

God delivered the children of Israel from hundreds of years of bondage and slavery in Egypt.  With miraculous signs and a mighty hand God brought forth the Jewish nation and gave them His Law.  Centuries later, a day came when Israel faced the threat of the Babylonian nation.  Desperate to save themselves from occupation, captivity, or annihilation, some Jews decided to take refuge in Egypt from the advancing army.  God pronounced woe on those who looked to Egypt for help rather than look to the Holy God of Israel in faith.  It was folly to return to the "iron furnace" from which God had delivered them. (Deut. 4:20, Jer. 11:4)  How quickly we can forget how horrible our bondage was!

God proved His power and authority over all Egyptian gods through miraculous plagues before the exodus.  After the tenth plague, the children of Israel were released by Pharaoh.  Not long after they departed from his lands, he and his princes had second thoughts.  So hard were their hearts they decided to pursue the freed slaves with chariots and horsemen.  God protected His people and caused the Red Sea to part so the people could pass through on dry land.  When the Egyptian armies attempted a pursuit, it was to their destruction.  The entire army perished, for God fought for his people.  As the people saw the corpses of their enemies washing up on the shore, Exodus 15:1 tells us:  "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"

The Jews going to Egypt was far more significant than traveling to a distant city to avoid conflict:  it was telling of the people's hearts before God.  They had forsaken the God who delivered them and returned to a place of bondage.  They hoped for safety from those who had oppressed them, and trusted horses and chariots to save them - the same horses and chariots God had vanquished in the depths of the Red Sea.  The people had departed from serving the living God and did not trust Him to save them.  Israelite kings were given victory by the power of God, but foolishly gathered up the idols of the kings they destroyed and worshiped them instead.  Jeremiah 2:12-13 says, "Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. ¹³ "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Having been given salvation freely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, it is possible for Christians to do the same thing:  to seek deliverance and salvation from current conflict by returning to a life of bondage which could not save at all.  When we lean on our own understanding, walking by sight and not by faith in God, the old ways of thinking and living prove alluring.  But we should never be duped to return to Egypt.  It is God who has saved us and He is our God and King.  He is the One who fights for us.  It is He who vanquishes our enemies and provides rest for our souls.  Consider the wisdom of David in Psalm 20:6-9:  "Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. ⁹ Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call."  Do you trust the One in whom you have believed?  Let us seek our Saviour who provides living water, and refuse to hew for ourselves broken cisterns.

The Impossible God

My wife and I recently submitted applications to become dual-citizens of Australia.  It was the exciting culmination of many years of effort and desire.  But truly, it is God who has done all the work.  He has opened a door to us that no man can shut.  Even when God opens doors, the way through them is not as straightforward as I would like!

The online application process proved challenging because I could not figure out how to include Laura on my application.  We had to apply separately, which proved inconvenient because our interviews with the test were scheduled a week apart!  We paid our fees, gathered all the appropriate paperwork, scanned and attached the files to our online applications, had passport-sized pictures taken, and an authorised friend of ours filled out the identity declaration.  We started studying for the test and Laura's appointment came first.

I received the first text from Laura when she boarded the train, another when she entered the building, and then another.  The last message really grabbed my attention, and not in a good way:  "No go," it said.  A small strip of correction tape had been used on the form and therefore it was invalid.  Laura was tasked to contact our friend and have the form filled out again by 3pm and she could go ahead with the test.  "And if you are unable to do so," the man said, "it's looking like April is mostly booked.  You will need to call and reschedule."

This was bad news.  Not crushing or devastating news, but a terrible disappointment.  I felt bad Laura went through the trouble of preparing, made her appointment on time, but was denied from her interview because of a little correction tape.  But right on top of the form it did read, "No liquid paper."  So the rest of the afternoon was spent praying and spamming our poor friend's mobile phone to try to make contact to fill out a clean form.  I had a peace about the situation because God is faithful.  I committed the matter into the LORD's hands, believing it would be resolved before 3am.  It was not to be.

After the 3pm deadline passed, Laura called the office in Parramatta.  She eventually was able to speak to an associate and explain the situation.  "It looks like April 30th is the first opening," the woman said.  I told her my husband had an appointment on 1 April, even though the man said it was impossible.  "Let me check one more time."  And would you believe the women said, "Oh, I can book you in for 1 April at 11:20am."  Would you believe that is the exact same day and time as my appointment?  How awesome is that?  We wanted to have our interviews at the same time, and God answered our prayer in a most unexpected way.  Now we technically don't have the same appointment, but it happens to be at the same place at the same time.  Amazing!

When Laura told me the good news of her rescheduled appointment, I was flabbergasted.  Words came out of my mouth which convicted me deeply:  "How did God do that?"  Ah, me of little faith.  I saw the folly of my words as soon as I said them, for God is the God of the impossible.  I confessed my sin and placed my trust in God, and affirmed the wondrous thing He had done.  The things we cannot do He does without effort.  In this case, He divinely allowed this circumstance to be a tool to reveal a dearth of faith.  God does things like this.  He wants us to recognise though we trust Him, it does not mean we are trusting Him.  It is not my faith which earns blessings from God, but they are all of grace.  God is gracious to show us our lack so He can supply all needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.

God-willing on 1 April Laura and I will meet the interview and test requirements to become dual citizens.  Our children are included in our applications and will be dual citizens as well.  The next step in the process is to go to a ceremony where we recite a pledge before God.  I am looking forward to it, for my God is an awesome God.  The words of Mark 7:37 apply perfectly in my case:  "And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."  Jesus Christ is the God of the impossible!

Be Reconciled to God

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

When we moved into our current house over a year ago, it was not long before I realised something strange was happening in our shower.  It was most peculiar.  Over the years, a small gap had opened around the edge of the shower pan, and to my horror I discovered insects were living in there.  After a good clean, I began to notice thin black streaks on the tile.  One night I turned on the light and there were these tiny little bugs racing around in the shower.  I used bleach, I used toilet cleaner, anything to erradicate those dirty little pests.  Nothing worked as a long-term solution.

I decided to ask permission from our land lady to re-grout the gap.  I went to the shops and bought all the necessary supplies:  a tool to remove grout, bucket, float, new grout, and an additive.  For whatever reason, I didn't perform the repair right away.  Months passed as I was busy with other projects or activities.  With my knee rehab I wasn't keen to be kneeling in a small space.  But in all honesty, any reason I can provide is a lame excuse.  I half-heartedly kept up the losing battle with the shower bugs, but finally I was fed up.  "This weekend," I told Laura with fresh commitment, "I am going to fix our shower."

I had put off the task because replacing grout is a serious pain.  It is a tedious job on your hands and knees, removing the old grout, mixing the new grout to the correct consistency, spreading it evenly into the gaps, and wiping up the excess.  Oh the wiping!  Time after time I emptied the bucket and replaced it with clean water.  Again and again I passed the sponge over the tile, removing the cloudy haze from the glazed surface.  Finally it was complete, and I walked away satisfied the battle with the bugs was over.

When a job long put off is complete, a funny thing happens.  I look at the finished product and ask myself, why did I wait so long to finish this job?  I had all the materials, ability, and time:  why didn't I make this a priority months ago and begin to enjoy the beneficial results sooner?  The same can be true about sin in the life of a Christian.  Through faith in Christ, we have been freed from the power of sin.  Why do we put off being reconciled to God or others when it is so wonderful to finally be free of addictions, hatred, unforgiveness, and bitterness?  How is it we have the promises of God and the divine empowerment at our disposal with all the tools granted by God's grace, but we choose instead to keep fighting a spiritual battle through the efforts of the flesh?

I am very pleased to have a renewed shower, clean and free from the corrupting influence of those pesky insects.  How much more satisfying and pleasing it is when our lives are once again free from sin and aligned with God's will in obedience and fellowship?  Jesus has become sin for us so we might be the righteousness of God in Him.  Take to heart the exhortation of Paul today:  "Be reconciled to God."  Once we have confessed our sin, repented, and received Christ's forgiveness and liberty we will undoubtedly say, "Why didn't I do that sooner?"

The Atheist God Used (to make a Christian live like one)

When I entered Grossmont College as a freshman, I had relatively low expectations.  It amazingly turned out to be an eye-opening season of my life.  I could not have guessed the English professor teaching Advanced Composition would be instrumental in changing me for the better.  A consummate scholar and intellectual, now doctor, author, and acclaimed professor, the man was eccentric, witty, well-read, and captivating.  I felt I recognised and appreciated his brilliant mind more than others:  what was this genius doing teaching at a Junior College?

Our class met on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7am.  Upon arriving for our first day, we were warmly greeted with an interesting question:  "Are there any monotheists in this class?"  I was one of three, and we were directed to sit on the right side of the classroom.  The class was further separated into those with atheistic and agnostic leanings.  The class was heavy on discussion of current events and reading from A World of Ideas by Lee A. Jacobs.  By far it was my favourite class because of the professor I thoroughly admired, with whom I sensed a strange connection.  Perhaps I was able to conceal my admiration, but likely not.  The brilliance of the man in my eyes was undimmed by his worldview, which was admittedly atheistic.  Instead of rejecting me for holding to the view that God exists, I was impressed by his acceptance.  There was a mutual respect which transcended our differences.  I did not always share my professor's views (especially concerning secret messages from Carol LaBeau), but I respected him like no other.

I came into the class believing there was a God.  I grew up reading the Bible, praying, believing God heard my prayers and answered.  I had seen God's answers to prayer.  I knew I had been forgiven and trusted Jesus as Saviour.  It was far more than a mental exercise.  But during my teen years, I had grown spiritually proud and dull.  My heart hardened, though I maintained a clean exterior.  I did not use the crass language of others, drink alcohol, view pornography, or sleep around.  It was of me Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:5:  one who had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof.  As I was exposed to worldly thoughts and philosophies in English class, I was challenged to the core.  It was like I stood in the valley of decision:  would I hold fast to my faith and belief in the scripture, or would I exchange it for a secular, atheistic worldview?  The temptation was very real.  As the weeks passed I realised I could not forsake Jesus who had died for my sins and rose from the dead.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead was beyond doubt.  The truth was, however, at the time I was not living for God at all.

My first English class in university marked a turning point in my life, to move from knowing about God to living for Him.  God used my atheist professor and the confronting nature of the class to force me to either reject the Bible wholesale as a work of fiction, or actually mix works with my faith.  If I believed God was real, if I believed in the veracity of scripture, then I needed to take steps to intentionally live life for the glory of God.  That class drove me to the scriptures to seek the answers.  As I read the Word of God, I found my feet secure on solid footing.  My confidence shifted from my knowledge to trusting God Himself.  No longer did I feel unsettled by questions or doubts.  I did not know everything, but what I knew was trustworthy, secure, and unshakable.  Once settled with faith in Christ, I no longer felt overwhelmed by the intelligence of my professor or peers.  My conscience was at rest, founded on Jesus Christ and the unchanging truth of the Bible.  I was content with the fact I would likely never be an intellectual revered by colleagues in academia if I held fast to biblical truth.  The class taught me a life marked by Christ's love, grace, and service far exceeds a Christian worldview alone.  It wasn't long before I began volunteering to serve at church, and the rest is history.

I have a great debt of gratitude to the professor God used to change my life for the better.  Shocked out of my complacency, a fire was started in my soul which has continued to burn and spread to this day.  Isn't it ironic God would pull me out of a construction trade over a decade later having ordained me as a minister and pastor?  I would be putting my university education into practice in the most unexpected way as I prepared studies, lessons, and sermons.  I am grateful beyond words how God used that brilliant man to compel me towards Christ.  I love atheists, agnostics, and my fellow believers because God does, and God can use them all for His glory too.  You don't need to believe in God to be used mightily by Him, but how much more glorious it is to know God and be used by Him as well!  To be known by God is more profoundly satisfying than any accolades received on earth.  Our lives on earth will soon be over and we will be forgotten, but the Word of the LORD endures forever!