Back to Egypt.

I don't like where I am right now. I'm uncertain and discouraged about my career and dreams. I just had my one year anniversary in a job I don't enjoy. My career trajectory stalled, if not crashed, a year ago. I'm back doing the same kind of work I was doing 6 years ago, and for less money than back then. The career progress of the last few years was wiped out. I'm not sure why the Lord has me here. I know it's a journey, but I want to know the direction and the goal. I'd just like to go back to better times.


And then I came across Number 14:3-4. It's a curious passage. "Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt” (ESV).


We read that today, knowing the end of the story, and wonder how they could be so foolish and short-sighted. The Israelites could only see the pain where the Lord had them, and not the plan He was working. Not only was He was leading them to the Promised Land, but was calling them to be His people. It was a gracious gift but they wanted to throw it all away and go back to slavery. They wanted the certainty of the daily routine. Even if that was a return to oppression.


But aren't we that way too?


We can only see the pain and uncertainty of right now. We know the Lord has a plan for us but we don't know what it is. We enter a time of transition and the future is uncertain; we are wandering. We want out of the desert even if it means not going where the Lord is leading us. We want the familiar. Going back to the known routine can make slavery look better than being free. But the Lord leads and He's certain of our destination.


I don't like where I am right now. But that's OK, I don't need to. It's not the end of the story. I'll tell you more next time.