Hepzibah

Bible Passages:

Matthew 2:15

and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Jeremiah 42:19

“The Lord has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Know certainly that I have admonished you this day.

Exodus 3:7-8

And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.[8]So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

What Does Egypt Represents

Spiritually, Egypt represents a place of slavery, bondage or stagnation in the life of an individual within a system. A place of oppression , depression , wickedness and deprivation of rights and privileges. Egypt represents the old life of believers of bondage under Satan and sins, the spiritual darkness life of a believer which is transformed into a new life of holiness and righteousness in Christ. This is supported with the times and life of the children of Israel who sojourned in Egypt for 430 years in the land of Goshen as slaves where unfair treatments were melted upon them in the hands of the taskmasters until God heard their afflictions and delivered them with a strong hand. It takes spiritual deliverance to exit Egypt.

The Patriarchs and the Journey To Egypt

The Bible recorded that the three Patriarchs went to Egypt in their lifetime for the same reason in search of food and comfort.

God called Abram out of his country of Haran and his father house to an unknown place he was to be shown by God( Genesis 12:1) . In obedience, Abram and his household set out , and God took him to a land of Cannan and God promised to give the land to him and his generations forever in compliance to his obedience ( Genesis 12:7). Cannan became the promised land of the lsraelities.

At a point in time , there was famine in the land that God has promised him , the land of Cannan, so Abram and his household decided to go to Egypt for there was food in Egypt. Without enquiring from, God , Abram went down to Egypt in search of food.However, as he was about to enter Egypt, he agreed with Sarai to lie about their relationship, please say you are sister ,so that the Egyptians can have you and spared my life ( Genesis 12:13). As expected Pharaoh found Sarai attractive and took her to devour but God intervened and plagued Pharaoh, so he had to quickly send Abram away .

Abram went to Egypt but by God’s mercy and intervention, he and his household were sent out of Egypt , thereafter he went to inherit the land of Cannan that he was before ( Genesis 13: 3-4). Abram didn’t tarry in Egypt but quickly came back to the promised land.- Cannan.

Again at the time of lsaac, there was famine in the land of Cannan . Like his father, he was equally contemplating going to Egypt for there was food in Egypt, but God appeared to him and said:

Genesis 26:2 :“Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you.. Do stay in the land of Cannan ( your inheritance) and l will bless you even though you see famine but l see abundance. Isaac in obedience stayed in Gerar and didn’t go to Egypt.

Jacob on coming back from Padan Aram settled down in Shechem which is in the land of Cannan ( Genesis 33:18 ). Once again, the promised land experienced famine and it was so much severe that Jacob said , “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”,( Genesis 42:2) so the 10 sons of Jacob went to Egypt in search of grains.. When news reached him that his son, Joseph was in charge of food in Egypt, he and all his entire household moved to Egypt and settled in the land of Goshen. With the death of Pharaoh who knew Joseph, others kings didn’t recognize the Israelites and turned them to slaves. For 430 years , they were subjected to hardship, deprivation ( even spiritually) and suffering. Jacob led his people to Egypt and they didn’t not come out untill God’s intervention .

Israel Desired To Go Back to Egypt – The Craving for Egypt

Having been brought out of Egypt with great power and mighty hand of God, the lsraelities went the way of wilderness of Sinai to the promised land and while in the wilderness for 40 years , on several occasions they expressed their desires to go back or regret to have left Egypt.

1. When they saw Pharaoh and his chariots behind them at the bank of the Red Sea, their faith failed and cried out to Lord that it should have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness where was no grave ( Exodus 14:10-12).
2. When they cried for meat and remembered the fish, cucumbers,the melons , the leeks , the onions and the garlic they ate in abundance in Egypt ( Numbers 11:5).
3. When they failed to trust God for the victory to take over the promised land from the descendants of Anak after the spy of the land, so they decided to elect a leader to take them back to Egypt ( Numbers 14:1-3).

For every discomfort , lack of their desired food, and for fear of the perceived giants who had inhabited the land , they would rather not take possession of their inheritance but to return to Egypt. For them, they would rather be enslaved in Egypt than enduring the toughness of the wilderness for a promised land that looks like an illusion to them.

Israel Returned to Egypt

After the invasion of Babylon and the death of Gedaliah,whom King Nebuzaradan has installed as governor of the land ( Jeremiah 40 :7), the people became afraid of what the Chaldeans would do and they decided to go to Egypt (Jeremiah 41: 17-18) . It was the plan of God for them to remain in the land and not to exercise any fear over the king of Babylon ( Jeremiah 42:10-11) and they were seriously warned Not To Go Back to Egypt ( Jeremiah 42:19) , a land of famine and pestilence. The people of Judah did not obey the voice of God as spoken through the mouth of prophet Jeremiah. All of them, men, women, children and everyone went back to Egypt and prophet Jeremiah was equally taken along ( Jeremiah 43:6-7). God pronounced punishment upon them for this act ; that they would be consumed in Egypt.

Jesus in Egypt

Contrary to what Egypt had represented in the life of the lsraelities, Egypt was a land of Refuge and Protection for baby Jesus. After the birth of Jesus and the visitation of the wise men from the East, announcing the birth of the “King of Jews” to king Herod, he became troubled and decided to kill all the male children under two years in Bethlehem., in order to get rid of the new born king of Jews. God sent an angel to Joseph to escape with the baby Jesus to Egypt and not to return until the death of king Herod ( Matthew 2: 13). The flight to Egypt by Jesus was prophetic as said by prophet Hosea.

Matthew 2:15

and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

Jesus was called out of Egypt to bring final redemption to the people of God out of famine , pestilence, destruction and sins.

The Continuous Crave For Egypt By Believers

God redeemed His beloved Israelites with a mighty hand and by the blood of the lamb that was slaughtered at the Passover , the night that all the first born in the land of Egypt were killed as a ransomed for the freedom of Israel ( Exodus 12) . This great sacrifice was not an adequate ransom as people continued to wallow in sin with increased desire to remain or go back to their sinful ways whenever they confront an obstacle or a problem in their promised land.

Just like the Israelites, people especially believers brought out of Egypt , with the precious blood of Jesus,always desire and crave for Egypt, their past lifestyles. Like in the days of the Patriarchs, whenever there seems to be a famine in the promised land , there will always be abundance of everything in Egypt.; to lure believers back. While, there could be a temporary challenge in the promised land, Egypt is full of pleasures and lusts attractions of the world. It takes a strong faith to wait on the promises of God when the world offers shortcuts and easy way out. Egypt will always seems right and comfortable to man to return to, but it’s a place of destruction ( Proverbs 14:12).

Another major reason that made the lsraelities wanted to go back to Egypt was fear of the inhabitants of the promised. Believers especially the newly converted ones may have tendency to fear losing their old friends, unable to have enough courage to face criticisms and acceptance of their new beliefs and lifestyles. Their faith and trust in God may not be that strong to face the future just like the Israelites were afraid of the giants in the land.

The loudest voice of the flesh which promised freedom in Egypt is being heard on daily basis in the ears of the believers. Like Paul said, he kept on doing things which he didn’t want to ( Romans 7:15. ) , same is true for believers.There is high tendency to listen to the false inner adversary and giving in to his sugar coated mouth of deceits and offer of things that should be totally rejected. . Sin is so captivating and appealing to man , who is weak in his own capacity to abstain from sin or not to return to Egypt.

Gumbling and complaining about delays in God’s promises to become a reality is a way back to Egypt . Remember, the lsraelities specialize in gumbling and complaining, forgetting the miraculously and mighty works in their lives while in Egypt and in the wilderness to the extent that God, himself labeled them as rebellion and stiff necked people ( Deuteronomy 31:27). No wonder God hates murmuring and complaining ( Philippians 2:14) for it’s a path to Egypt and an act of ungratefulness.

Egypt is Not An Alternative – Do Not Go Back To Egypt

God warned the lsraelities seriously during the time of Jeremiah that no matter the fear they entertained concerning the Babylonians ,Egypt was not an alternative; likewise Isaac was seriously warned not to go Egypt . Egypt is a place of sin and pride in the eyes of God , in Ezekiel 30 :15a, God said:

I will pour My fury on Sin, the strength of Egypt; and God was against her pride and arrogant strength ( Ezekiel 30:18) . Egypt is a place that God wants to show and exhibit His powers and greatness for He is not known in the land , for Pharaoh told Moses:, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go (Exodus 5:2). Egypt is a place of idolatry, where God is not being worshiped nor the laws or statutes of God was practiced, on leaving Egypt, the lsraelities were taught and reminded about the various forms of worship and the statues , for they had forgotten all while in Egypt.

Egypt is definitely not a place for children of God to return to knowing the disposition of God towards idolatry and pride which He cannot abhor or tolerate in any form. Why should any child of God purchased with the precious blood wants to return to Egypt or return to his vomit and old ways? King Solomon said it a fool who repeats his folly , but Apostle Peter described it as an unfortunate act and better not to have be taken out of Egypt than to return to there.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.[21]For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.[22]But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Stay ln The Promised Land

Isaac was asked to stay in the land God positioned him instead of going to Egypt and God promised him abundance in famine . The Bible says he prosper, continued prospering until he became prosperous ( Genesis 26:1-5) in the promised land. Apart from the Abraham’s covenant upon his life, lsaac obeyed and trusted God to fulfill His promises while staying in Cannan. Trust and obey are the key words to stay in the Promised land. He who has promised will surely bring His words to pass, promises may be delayed for the vision is for an appointment time that should be waited for it will surely come to pass( Habakkuk 2: 3-4) , wait for it in your Cannan, Egypt is not alternative but a place of destruction and deceit.

Jesus has called us to a life of freedom and liberty from slavery, commendations and death. In Christ we are no more slaves to the law but freeborn and heir to the throne .

Galatians 4:7
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. You are no more a slave so stay in Cannan, a land that flows with milk and honey and enjoy the promised life of abundance in Christ.

Being a new creature in Christ, Egypt is the old creature which was in you before , now this mind and ways of Christ has to be in you .A new mind set of a free born and not being conformed to the world but who has been transformed by the renewing of the mind through access to the word , acceptance of same and staying in obedience to the promises provided in the word.

You must reject every temptations, enticements that could make you to want to return to spiritual Egypt or sins but to hold on to the unchangeable and pure promises of God. Paul said , no matter the challenges you face is not peculiar to you , others have gone through it victoriously. Famine in Cannan is not new , remain in Cannan. Egypt is past , be forward looking in Cannan for the promised prize for those who are victorious ( Philippians 3:14). Whatever, the suffering in Cannan, it’s indeed for this present time ,cannot be compared to the coming good times of prospering and coming into the fullest experience of prosperity spiritually and materially in Jesus in the promised land ( Romans 8:18) , so Stay in the Promised Land, Stay Focus and Look ahead, He who has promised is Faithful.

No matter how long it takes, keep trusting and obeying God, stay in your promised land and all His good thoughts and plans towards you will be accomplished. Do not long for Egypt, it’s not an alternative. Promises become reality only in Cannan – The Promised Land. Crown is given to the perseverance mind . Continue waiting in Cannan. Keep your faith in Jesus, He will perfect all that concerns you in Jesus name amen.