From Egypt to the Promised Land

by Guest Author: Tecla Grazia, Italy.

An introspective journey in search of liberation and transformation in Jesus.

As Believers, the way to new life opens when we accept Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior.
We cross over a “sea of impasse” to enter into a land of freedom.
( This place however, while it is a place of freedom, is not yet our “Promised Land”, but a wilderness place that we are led into by God where He begins the process of transforming our life. )

Have we ever considered the life of a Christian in parallel with the life of the Hebrews as they were freed from captivity in Egypt?

Egypt began for the children of Israel as a land where they found comfort and consolation in a time of drought and famine.

However, they soon became enslaved to an ungodly system, with cruel Egyptian Pharaohs lording it over them.

Egypt, is a picture of this beguiling world order that seems to offer us goods that overflow from every corner, but soon we are enslaved to a structure and a way of being that we cannot shake. There comes a price that must be exacted from us for choosing these worldly comforts as our gods.

Just as Pharaoh”, the figure of Satan, enslaved the Hebrew children to work for his purposes, so too, we become enslaved to the enemy’s evil nature and his ways.

We become his prey, having to do everything he pleases, entirely helpless to free ourself from his grip.

Moses was sent by God to liberate the children of Israel from out of captivity in Egypt, taking them across the Red Sea.

Just as Father God sent Moses to the Hebrew people, in His mercy and grace He has sent us a “liberator” in Christ Jesus.

The children of Israel were freed from Egypt but their journey had only begun when they crossed that Red Sea.

They had to pass through a crucible of testing in a dry, desert wilderness in order for all of their impurities to be purified.

As Believers, the way to new life opens when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We cross over a “sea of impasse” to enter into a land of freedom.

( This place however, while it is a place of freedom, is not yet our “Promised Land”, but a wilderness place that we are led into by God where He begins the process of transforming our life. )

This wilderness place is where our old sin nature must be put to death. It is not comfortable, but we must allow The Holy Spirit to confront our old nature with truth so that we can leave the ways of the flesh behind.

In the desert, the remains of the old man must remain; they cannot enter the promised land. Only “the new” will cross over to the Jordan.

In this figurative wilderness or desert place, we will see and have to confront what is truly hidden in our hearts.

Many Christians believe they have already entered the promised land when in fact they are still in the desert, struggling with their lusts and desires.

We believe to our detriment, that once we accept Jesus, the battle is over, and everything will be without difficulty from then on. It is one of the worst deceptions that the Believer could entertain.

They feel they have accepted Jesus, and have salvation, so what more do they need to do?

They continue in old patterns and mindsets, unaware of the path of liberation and healing they must undertake for true liberation.

In the desert we murmur, complain and resent the changes that The Holy Spirit must make within us.

Instead of yielding to this process of purification, we cry out for a God in our image, seeing the golden calf forged to please us.

Only the bravest and most courageous will reach the banks of the Jordan where the true real Christian journey will begin.

Total surrender to Him, who can do all things, will allow us to continue the pursuit for purity and personal holiness, which brings transformation.

This is likened unto the children of Israel reaching the Jordan banks to cross over into the promised land.

In this desert struggle, one word must rise above all others: “SURRENDER”.

Yes, surrender will lead us to the finish line at the Jordan.

Praise and Glory be to God, who is patient, loving, compassionate, and above all merciful towards His children. He sees the strenuous struggle we face against ourselves and comes to our rescue.

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV.

Prayer

Holy Father, You who called us from our impoverished conditions to bring us to taste Your Glory and goodness, Come and scrutinize our hearts.

Uproot everything that prevents the Holy Spirit from flowing in and through us.

Raise us up to the call that You have designated for each of us.

Reign in us Merciful Father!

Only You truly know the destitute nature of our hearts without You.

May our heart, soul and spirit cry out to You saying “Your will be done” in us.

Thank you, Holy Father, for your tenacious love that never gives up but persists even when we ourselves are undeserving of such love.

Thank you, in Jesus’ Name we pray!

Amen.

 

~ Tecla Grazia, Italy.

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Materials used by kind permission of the original author.

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