"So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt"

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

The subject for the eDevotion today reminded me of a song by Keith Green, So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt? It’s a great song about the Children of Israel in the desert complaining to Moses that they “Wanna Go Back to Egypt.” It starts with the following words:

So you wanna go back to Egypt


Where it's warm and secure


Are you sorry you bought the one-way ticket


When you thought you were sure?

You wanted to live in the land of promise


But now it's getting so hard


Are you sorry you're out here in the desert


Instead of your own backyard?

Eating leeks and onions by the Nile


Ooh, what breath but dining out in style


Ooh, my life's on the skids, give me the pyramids


Well, there's nothing to do


But travel and we sure travel a lot

[Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Group - Green Melody]

Rather than eating desert rats, or whatever you find to eat in the desert, you’d think the Israelites would be in awe of God’s continual, heavenly supply of manna [literally, what is this?] and quail. But it wasn’t long before God’s blessing became commonplace, or as young people like to say today, “boring!” Think about it for a moment, each and every day, they witnessed God’s miraculous provision right before their very eyes, and yet they longed for something else, something they thought of as better—even the “onions of Egypt.” (Those must have been some onions!)

A missionary friend told the story of being without a car for over a year. His family prayed earnestly, and one day, God provided enough funds that they could purchase an “oldie but goodie.” “Thank You, Lord,” they all cried out to Him! He then said that, in less than a month, they were already talking about how nice it would be to have something better.

Oh how quickly we get accustomed to our blessings! Perhaps today would be a good time for a little self-examination. And let the goal of it be to appreciate the goodness of God and His provision upon our lives.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15