Comfort, the Promise Killer

Scriptures: Exodus 16

Principles Revealed:
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were miraculously led by God’s miraculous hand the entire way, the plagues, the pillars of fire and smoke, and the parting of the sea. Yet they still grumbled against God and Moses and wanted to go BACK to slavery in Egypt.

Why?! Why would you want to go back to being a slave? Simple, it was comfortable in Egypt. “There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted,” they said. A bit of an exaggeration since I doubt slaves had an abundance of meat, but the point is they would happily go back to slavery JUST to be comfortable and have their basic needs met.

Never mind the oppression, and the lack of meaning, life was comfortable. Contrast that with this new journey out in the desert in pursuit of the Promised Land, the land of destiny and freedom. In the desert there was uncertainty, testing, and trials that stretched their faith.

Application:
We can be like that too. When we step out towards fulfilling God’s promise and purpose for our lives, it will get uncomfortable and difficult at times. When that happens we must resist the temptation to go back. The road to destiny is paved with trial and uncertainty all designed to cause us to stretch and grow in our faith, and character. Yes its uncomfortable, and even painful, but it is the only path towards true purpose, and Promise.

We must be willing to part with comfort in the pursuit of the promise, and when things get uncomfortable, we must not turn back to the land of comfort.

Don’t get me wrong, I love comfort, comfort is my friend. I am not one of those who are driven by ambition. But Jesus is my King, and if He wants me to move away from comfort and towards His purpose and promise. I must move.

We can be encouraged of the fact that through the uncomfortable desert, God will guide and provide along the way as we follow in faith just as he did for Israel on the path towards their Promised Land.