How to Keep Pushing through to Your Promised Land
Share
Sometimes it’s a very long journey from “Egypt” to the “Promised Land” in our lives. After the excitement of deliverance from bondage to Pharoah, we set off into the wilderness, thinking it’s only an 11-day trip to a new life of freedom and prosperity. But forty years later, we are fatigued, somewhat disappointed, and have made little to no progress forward.
The good news is no matter how long we’ve wandered in the wilderness, no matter how long we’ve been stuck going around the same mountain, God has a better tomorrow and a brighter future planned. All we need is a bit of encouragement to make that final push for breakthrough.
Think about Moses and the children of Israel as they made their famous trek from Egypt into the Promised Land. It is estimated that Moses lead at least 2-3 million Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. That means, from the first person in line to the last, it would have taken approximately 24 hours to get everyone safely across the Red Sea. But God’s plan was not exactly what they had expected!
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea” (Exodus 13:17-18).
The delay and detour they encountered was for a specific purpose; it was part of His plan to get them safely to their destination. He understood their weakness, and He knew they needed time to develop faith.
When we face delays and detours, we should look to Moses’ example and follow his lead!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Zbynek Pospisil
1. Don’t Take Shortcuts
Don’t we all love shortcuts? We take them when we drive because we want to get there as fast as possible. We go on crash diets because we want to lose weight now. We have direct deposit, so we can access our money immediately.
Sometimes taking shortcuts is okay, maybe even a wise thing to do. But many times, we use shortcuts in ways that compromise our integrity so we can have what we want when we want it, no matter what the ultimate price. But those kinds of shortcuts always cost us more in the long term. It’s always best to follow God’s way – even if it’s the long way around.
God did not lead Moses and the Israelites the short way through the Philistines country; it would have only been a 150-mile trip, but instead God leads them south, the long way.
Going the short way would have actually cost them everything. God knew the Egyptians were coming after them. In the open area, the Israelites would have been easily overtaken and defeated.
Going toward the Red Sea appeared to the Israelites to be a mistake, the wrong way, or at least an unnecessarily long way. Standing on the shore with the Egyptians closing in, it certainly would have appeared to be a dead end. But in God’s eyes, going the long way was destined to be a mighty deliverance.
2. Don’t Break Rank
One of the tricks of the enemy that he uses to capture us and bring us back to Egypt is “authority issues.” In Numbers 12, we read how God responded to Miriam and Aaron when they challenged the divinely established leadership of Moses:
“The anger of the Lord burned against them, and He left them. When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow” (Numbers 12:9-10).
Clearly, it did not sit well with God! When we decide to rebel against authority because we don’t agree with the direction they are taking us, or we feel that we could do a better job in a position we have not yet been promoted into, we are in effect, breaking rank.
The deception is that we might think breaking rank will help us, but in fact it harms us:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/TanawatPontchour
3. Embrace Your Godly Heritage
“And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you’” (Exodus 13:19).
It’s interesting that during the exodus from Egypt, that God required the children of Israel to reconnect with Joseph; he was an important part of their Godly heritage. Never cut off the Godly heritage (your parents and family) that you have in your life. It is the power you need to have a “sound mind” and break free from your Egypt.
This is what Paul advised Timothy, the young pastor who was doubting his faith:
“I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:3-7).
If our parents have left us a godly legacy, we are blessed beyond what we realize! Both spiritually and physically, we are strengthened by the wisdom and experiences of those who have followed Christ before us.
4. Realize the Enemy Wants Your Services Back
“Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, ‘Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?’” (Exodus 14:5).
We must realize that just because we broke free from a bondage for a moment, that doesn’t mean the enemy won’t come after us again, because he wants our services. He wants each of us to stay bound in spiritual darkness. He wants us to have chronic, ungodly habits, toxic relationships, and to lose our effective Christian witness by making bad choices. He wants us to give up, lose hope and stop us from getting free.
He likes it when he can use and abuse us, the apple of God’s eye. It’s the only way he can actually hurt God. So be ready, and be vigilant, because like Pharaoh, your adversary is not going to let you go without a fight.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Kevin Delvecchio
Starve Your Fear, Feed Your Faith…and Push!
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace’” (Exodus 14:13-14).
The pursuing Egyptian army had trapped the Israelites at the shore of the Red Sea. The danger was real and they were understandably afraid. Many times, the fears that grip our hearts and cause us to run back into bondage instead of breaking free are also quite real.
- It’s the fear of dying when the doctor says you have cancer.
- It’s the fear of losing your home when you’ve been laid off for a long time.
- It’s the fear of divorce when your marriage has been rocky for years.
Certain fears are very real. But real or not, if we are ever going to have a “final push to freedom,” we must starve our fears and feed our faith. Faith is the vehicle through which God intervenes in our lives. Instead of seeing God intervene, fear empowers the enemy to win in our lives.
In order to push through, we must watch what we say. That means, we must not speak continually about the problem!
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:23-24).
What should we say to our “mountains”? We must say what God says.
- Cancer, I am the healed of the Lord!
- Depression, the joy of the Lord is my strength!
- Financial challenges, I’m a tither and that means Heaven’s windows are wide open above me, and I have more than I need!
Our words will either empower our fear or our faith; they will steer us toward either bondage or freedom. When we stick with what God says, we will push through the fear into freedom.
And we must also watch our thoughts.
Notice that the children of Israel began to imagine worst case scenarios: we are going to die out here, it’s over for us. Isn’t that what we do when we find ourselves in a tight spot?
Our minds begin to run wild. Too much month at the end of the money: oh no, we are going to lose the house! The car begins to make a weird noise: oh no, I’m going to need an entire new engine! We human are simply prone to imagine worst-case scenarios.
But what did Jesus say about imagining “worst case scenarios” when we’re in a tight spot?
“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:27).
Worry doesn’t help! So starve your fear, feed your faith and…
Photo credit: Unsplash/Ben White
Push!
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on’” (Exodus 14:15).
There comes a time when our prayers need to become Godly actions – that is, action which is consistent with the instructions given to us in the Word of God.
You have to start speaking the Word, taking your stand on the promises, and breaking ties with whatever or whoever is holding you back. Breakthrough faith is more than prayer, it has corresponding actions. When you see something behind you that you thought you left forever, you must take action and push!
That habit, that hang-up, that attitude – whatever it is that keeps you looking back to Egypt, is proof you’re ready for that final push before breakthrough. When all hell is breaking loose, it’s proof you’re are in the final stages. When the enemy is chasing you down, it’s time for you to move and take the final step of faith that you have been reluctant to take. It’s time to make the final push!
And like the children of Israel, as you push forward in faith, you will receive God’s enabling power to enter your Promised Land!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/spukkato
