What To Do When Your Eyes Are On Canaan
But Your Mind Is in Egypt?
Exodus 16:1-3
We gratefully welcome God’s visitation, but this day we greatly seek His habitation of our praises!
AS WE CONTINUE TO MATURE AND GROW IN LIFE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS OR ATTAIN A GOAL, YOU MUST HAVE A FIXED MIND. EVEN IN PLANNING A BRIGHTER TOMORROW, YOU MUST ANTICIPATE THE MANY PITFALLS AND POTHOLES THAT YOU HAVE TO ENCOUNTER ON THE ROAD OF LIFE, FOR IN ANYTHING WORTHWHILE THERE IS BOUND TO BE SOME STRUGGLE. THE HIGHER THE HILL YOU PLAN TO CLIMB, THE HARDER IT IS TO REACH THE TOP. THE GREATER THE GOAL, USUALLY, THE GREATER THE OBSTACLES. WE SHOOT MANY ARROWS OF DESTINY, BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE HIT THE TARGET?
ISRAEL WAS IN THE WILDERNESS, ON THEIR WAY TO CANAAN. BUT THEY HAD BEGUN TO FACE SOME TRYING EXPERIENCES ALONG THE WAY. HUNGER AND THIRST BECAME TRAVELING COMPANIONS WITH THEM, AND HAD MADE REAL THE THREATS THAT THEY FACED AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY IN THE WILDERNESS. OFTENTIMES IN THIS LIFE, THERE ARE LANDMARKS ALONG THE WAY, THAT REMIND US OF JUST HOW FRAGILE WE ARE AND OUR GREAT NEED TO DEPEND UPON GOD. HUNGRY AND FRIGHTENED THEY BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT THE TIMES WHEN THEY USED TO SIT BY THE FLESH POTS OF EGYPT AND SING AND EAT. THE FLESH POTS ARE BOTH SYMBOLIC AND REALITY. THE FLESH POTS REPRESENTED PROVISION, AS THEY WERE BEING FED AT THE ENEMY’S CAMP. THE REALITY WAS THAT THE FLESH POTS REPRESENTED THE FACT THAT THEIR CAPTORS FED THEM, NOT ON THE BASIS OF EQUALITY, BUT AS SLAVES. THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE IS A COMPLEX MESH OF SYMBOLS WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE ABSTRACT TRUTHS AND MYSTERIES OF PHILOSOPHY AND MORAL VIRTUE. WE CAN RELATE TO THEM THIS DAY, IF EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST REGARDS HIMSELF AS IF HE HIMSELF HAD ESCAPED FROM EGYPT," JUST AS "LEAVING EGYPT" IS AN INTERNAL STRUGGLE THAT MUST BE WAGED CONTINUALLY IN EVERY PERSON’S LIFE. IT IS THE FIGHT TO LIBERATE THEIR MINDS FROM THE PAST REPRESENTED BY REMEMBERANCES OF THE FLESHPOTS , GIVEN THEM IN EGYPT. BUT EGYPT ALSO REPRESENTS BONDAGE.. WHICH IS ALWAYS TRYING TO HOLD US BACK FROM THE ROAD LEADING TO THE FREEDOM OF VIRTUOUS LIVING.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT, EVEN AFTER LEAVING EGYPT THE ZEAL OF THE ISRAELITES WAS CONSTANTLY BEING IMPEDED BY THE "MIXED MULTITUDE" AMONG THEM, WHO WOULD BEWAIL THEIR FATE AND LONGINGLY RECALL THE FLESHPOTS OF EGYPT. ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,..WE MINISTER AND WORSHIP WITH A "MIXED MULTITUDE" WHO MAY NOT SEE THE "VISION" OR EVEN DESIRE TO SUPPORT IT. THEY ARE ALONG FOR THE RIDE, AND WANT TO BENEFIT FROM WHATEVER COMES OF IT. FOR PHILO THERE IS A "MIXED MULTITUDE" IN EACH OF US, A PART OF THE SOUL THAT REMAINS UNDER THE DOMINION OF POLLUTED PASSIONS AND IRRATIONAL THINKING. IN THE WICKED, THIS ELEMENT EXERCISES CONTROL. THE MIND OF THE WICKED MAN IS INDEED A "MIXED MULTITUDE" OF CONFLICTING OPINIONS, FOREVER BEING PULLED IN OPPOSING DIRECTIONS BY THE MANY FALSE IDEAS THAT STRIVE TO LEAD HIM AWAY FROM THE SINGLE PATH OF TRUTH AND GOODNESS.
AS IN THE CASE OF THE HISTORICAL EXODUS, THE SPIRITUAL LIBERATION FROM CONTROL OF OUR IRRATIONAL DESIRES CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A SINGLE MOMENT. THE CONTRADICTORY DIRECTIONS OF THE MIXED MULTITUDE CAN KEEP US WANDERING IN A CONFUSED WILDERNESS INSTEAD OF TRAVELING THE SIMPLE AND DIRECT ROUTE ON A GODLY ITINERARY TOWARDS OUR SPIRITUAL DESTINATION AND GOD-PURPOSED FULFILMENT. ACCORDING TO PHILO THE VERY NAME "PASSOVER" SIGNIFIES THAT THE TRUE LOVER OF WISDOM IS ALWAYS PRACTICING "PASSING OVER FROM THE BODY AND PASSIONS" IN A QUEST TO PURIFY HIS SOUL.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BECAME DISCOURAGED BEFORE THEY HAD HARDLY GOTTEN STARTED. THEY HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD ONLY A FEW DAYS, AND BUT A FEW MILES FROM SINAI, BUT YET, BECAUSE THEY BECAME HUNGRY, THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE FLESHPOTS AND THE SLAVE CAMPS OF EGYPT.
GOD HAD BROKEN THEIR CHAINS, HE HAD REMOVED THE TEMPORARY BUT HARSH RULE OF A TYRANT PHAROAH FROM THEIR LIVES; GOD HAD PULLED A LIQUID GAP OUT OF A BELCHING SEA FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND CAUSED THE WIND TO BLOW IT DRY. GOD HAD EXCHANGED THAT SLUSHY MUD FOR DRIFTING DUST ACROSS A DIVINELY CREATED SUPERHIGHWAY. AND YET, THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO MAKING BRICKS FROM MUD BALLS, JUST TO EAT AGAIN FROM FLESH POTS. THEY WERE WILLING TO SELL THEIR PROMISING FUTURE FOR A BITE FROM THEIR PITIFUL PAST. FREEDOM WAS SEEMINGLY TOO COSTLY A VENTURE, SO THEY FEARFULLY BALKED AT THE PRICE THEY HAD TO PAY. THEY HAD THEIR EYES ON CANAAN, BUT THEIR MINDS WERE STILL IN EGYPT. THEY WERE LOOKING ONE WAY, BUT THINKING ANOTHER WAY. THEY TALKED FREEDOM, BUT THOUGHT SLAVERY. THEY STARTED OUT WATCHING GOD AS HE BECKONED THEM THROUGH THE CLOUDS BY DAY, AND THE FIRE BY NIGHT. BUT THEY STILL HAD THEIR MINDS ON A LESSER GOD BY THE NAME OF PHAROAH. CANAAN AND EGYPT WERE IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, BUT EVEN GEOGRAPHICALLY THEY WERE IN EXTREME OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. TO REACH ONE, YOU HAD TO TURN YOUR BACK ON THE OTHER. TO THINK ABOUT EGYPT, THEIR MINDS WOULD HAVE TO TREK ACROSS THE BURNING DESERT SANDS WHERE THE JACKALS HIDE AND BARK, BACK ACROSS THE SEA, WHERE SLIME, SLAVERY AND THE SEDUCTION OF FALSE SECURITY HELD SWAY. BUT TO EVEN THINK OF CANAAN, THEIR MINDS WOULD HAVE TO BE ELEVATED, ABOVE THE HILLS, AMONGST THE CEDARS AND THE WHISPERING PINES. CANAAN OR EGYPT. ONE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE CRADLE OF THE RACE, AND THE OTHER WAS THE HOPE OF THEIR FUTURE. SHACKLES IN ONE, SONGS IN THE OTHER. SLAVERY IN EGYPT, FREEDOM IN CANAAN. THEY WERE HALTED BETWEEN THEIR CHAINS AND THEIR WINGS. WHETHER TO CLING TO CHAINS TO HOLD THEM TO THEIR PAST, OR TO ALLOW WINGS TO LIFT THEM TO NEW HEIGHTS. CHAINS OF SLAVERY OR WINGS OF FREEDOM. WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE? THEY WOULD RATHER GO BACK INTO BONDAGE RATHER THAN RUN THE RACE FOR VICTORY. THEY WERE WILLING TO SETTLE FOR THE MUCK AND THE MIRE OF MEDIOCRITY, RATHER THAN TO STRIVE FOR HE PURSUIT OF THE PROMISED LAND. SO OFTEN, WE CANNOT REACH OUR CANAANS, BECAUSE WE ARE TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT EGYPT. AND WE FIND OURSELVES ON THE TREADMILL OF LIFE, GOING IN CIRCLES. HOW CAN WE REACH THE INDIVIDUAL “PROMISE LANDS” OF OUR LIVES WITHOUT BEING DETOURED BY THE ENEMY? THE BATT LE IS IN OUR MINDS. SATAN HAD BEEN BOMBARDING THEIR MINDS WITH A CLEVERLY DEVISED PATTERN OF NAGGING THOUGHTS, SUSPICIONS, DOUBTS FEARS, WONDERINGS, REASONINGS AND THEORIES. HE KNEW OF THEIR INSECURITIES AND WEAKNESSES AND THEIR FEARS. SATAN WANTED TO ESTABLISH A STRONGHOLD IN THEIR MINDS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM PREFER BONDAGE TO FREEDOM. THAT WOULD MAKE THEM PREFER GOING BACK TO EGYPT, RATHER THAN MAKING IT TO THE PROMISE LAND. IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE THAT WOULD STRETCH AN 11 DAY TRIP INTO A 40 YEAR WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU THIS MORNING:
I. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE YOUR FOCUS
THE TEXT STATES THAT AS SOON AS THEY CROSSED THE HEAVENLY HIGHWAY (RED SEA), THEY BEGAN TO MURMUR. THEIR MURMURING WAS NOT COMPLETELY WITHOUT MERIT; THEY DID NEED TO EAT, LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN! FOOD WAS SCARCE! COULD IT BE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THEY DID NOT SEE THE BIG PICTURE, AND MOSES AND AARON DID. THEY COULD SEE WHERE GOD HAD BROUGHT THEM FROM (THAT WAS OBVIOUS), AND KNEW OF THE PROMISE OF WHERE GOD WOULD TAKE THEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CHOSE TO FOCUS ON THEIR THE PRESENT DIFFICULTY. ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW WE ARE CONSTANTLY LIVING IN THE PAST? ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW WE CONCENTRATE ON HOW THINGS USED TO BE, WHAT WE USED TO HAVE..OR WHAT WE USED TO DO? MEMORIES ARE WONDERFUL TO HAVE, AND WE NEED THEM SO THAT WE NEVER FORGET THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD, BUT HOW DO YOU MARCH FORWARD WHILE LOOKING BACKWARD? THE LORD TAKES US THROUGH DANGERS SEEN AND UNSEEN. YET WHENEVER WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WE FIND OURSELVES, LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISREAL-LOOKING BACK AND THINKING ABOUT OUR PERSONAL EGYPT. HOW MANY TIMES HAS THE LORD PLACED IN YOUR SPIRIT TO MOVE ON A JOB OPPORTUNITY, A BUSINESS VENTURE, OR TO A NEW SPIRITUAL LEVEL? INSTEAD OF TRUSTING IN THE ONE WHO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MOVE, WE GET A BAD CASE OF “COULD’VE, SHOULD’VE, WOULD’VE’S” AND END UP WITH THE "WISH I HAD’S". ISRAEL WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT EATING FROM THE FLESH POTS OF AN UNCARING PHAROAH, THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE UP A LAND THAT WAS FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY FOR THE SORRY SOUP OF THE FLESH POT. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, THIS WOULD SEEM TO SIGNAL THAT THEY HAD LEARNED NOTHING FROM THEIR PAST EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND CARE. THE PROBLEM HERE WAS THAT EVEN THOUGH GOD HAD DELIVERED THEM OUT OF EGYPT, EGYPT WAS NOT OUT OF THEM. THEY MAINTAINED AN EGYPT MENTALITY. THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN SET FREE, THEY STILL THOUGHT LIKE SLAVES, AND ACTED LIKE THEY WERE SLAVES!
II. HAVE FAITH IN GOD’S PROVEN TRACK RECORD TO
PROVIDE
THEY HAD ONLY BEEN OUT OF EGYPT FOR A LITTLE WHILE (ABOUT 1 MONTH.) EXODUS (12:18 SAYS THEY LEFT ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH.) This took place on the fifteenth day of the month of Nisan--the first day of Passover. The Jewish calendar has the following months:
Name Number Length Gregorian Equivalent
Nissan 1 30 days March-April
Iyar 2 29 days April-May
Sivan 3 30 days May-June
Tammuz 4 29 days June-July
Av 5 30 days July-August
Elul 6 29 days August-September
Tishri 7 30 days September-October
Cheshvan 8 29 or 30 days October-November
Kislev 9 30 or 29 days November-December
Tevet 10 29 days December-January
Shevat 11 30 days January-February
Adar 12 29 or 30 days February-March
Adar II 13 29 days March-April
FRESH OUT OF BONDAGE AFTER HOW LONG? WELL, It was precisely four-hundred-thirty years to the day since God had promised Abraham his children would be released from Egypt. God had said that the descendants of Abraham would be in exile for four hundred years. BUT THEY HAD FORGOTTEN GOD’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEM AND WORK MIRACLES IN THEIR LIVES. THEY HAD SET ASIDE ALL FAITH IN THE PROMISES OF GOD THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED THROUGH MOSES AND AARON, AND THEY JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE LORD NO LONGER CARED ABOUT THEM, OR THAT HE COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP THEM OUT OF THEIR DILEMMA. GOD’S WISDOM LEADS HIM TO EDUCATE US IN OUR FAITH, BY GRANTING HARDSHIPS AND DIFFICULTY IN ORDER THAT WE MAY DEVELOP AND MATURE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP TO HIM AND TO ONE ANOTHER. HE WANTS US TO GROW IN OUR HOLINESS AND OUR TRUST. IF THEY WOULD JUST TRUST IN GOD….(TRUST IN GOD = NEW LEVEL, TRUST SATAN = TO TRY TO DESTROY WHAT YOU HAVE). THIS WOULD FURNISH THEM WITH A GREAT TESTIMONY BEFORE AN UNBELIEVING WORLD. OFTENTIMES, THE ONLY TESIMONY THE WORLD SEES IS THE EXAMPLE OF YOUR LIFE AND PERSERVERANCE! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM GOD, AND LIVING TO THE GLORY OF GOD. GOD HAD PROVIDED WATER, AND WOULD PROVIDE QUAIL FOR MEAT, AND MANNA FOR BREAD. HE HAD PROVIDED A LEADER AFTER HIS OWN HEART. REMEMBER, MOSES DIDN’T VOLUNTEER FOR THIS JOB, HE WAS APPOINTED, CHOSEN, CALLED. AND WHOM GOD CALLS HE ALSO QUALIFIES. IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND, WE’VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO STOP THINKNG ABOUT EGYPT, TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD AND HAVE FAITH IN HIS ABILITY TO PROVIDE.
III. LEARN TO OPERATE IN THE FAVOR OF THE LORD
TO OPERATE IN HIS FAVOR MEANS 3 THINGS.
1. ACCESSIBIITY OF HIS PRESENCE….THAT MEANS KNOWING THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER AT ALL TIMES. WE HAVE ACCESS TO GOD 24/7. THOUGH JESUS CHRIST. JOHN 14:6 SAYS “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME”. JEUS IS THE AVENUE BY WHICH WE CAN ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. PAUL SAID…THERE IS NO OTHER NAME, BY WHICH MAN CAN BE SAVED…ACTS 4:12. HE SAID THAT HIS NAME IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, AND THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. WHEN WE ARE IN THE PRESENE OF THE LORD, WE’LL FIND OUT THAT THINGS WIL BEGIN TO MOVE AND OPERATE ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN. SITUATIONS WILL WORK OUT, CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE, DARK NIGHTS WIL TURN INTO SHINNY DAYS. NOTE* THEY DIDN’T ASK MOSES TO PRAY FOR THEM, THEY DIDN’T EVEN PRAY FOR THEMSELVES, THEY JUST COMPLAINED!
2. OPERATE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE ADVANTAGE OF HIS POWER. – THIS MEANS THAT ALTHOUGH YOU ARE FACING DIFFICULTY, YOU HAVE THE UPPER HAND BECAUSE GOD IS OUR FATHER, AND WE ARE HIS CHILDREN. WE HAVE THE POWER TO MOVE IN HIS AUTHORITY. THE POWER TO CAST OUT DEMONS. THE POWER TO LAY HANDS ON THE SICK AND THEY BE HEALED. THE POWER TO CALL THINGS THAT BE NOT, AS THOUGH THEY WERE, THE POWER TO TELL THE ENEMY TO TAKE HIS HANDS OFF OUR FAMILIES, OFF OUR FINANCES OFF OF THE THINGS GOD HAS GRANTED US. HE PROMISED US LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY. BUT YOUR MIND IS THE REAL BATTLEFIELD! AS A MAN THINKETH, SO IS HE! STOP THINKING ABOUT EGYPT AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON CANAAN. OPERATE IN THE FAVOR OF THE LORD. (ASSESSIBILITY/PRESENCE, ADVANTAGE/POWER
3. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE AVAILABILITY OF HIS PROMISE
GOD HAD ALREADY PROMISED TO BRING THEM OUT OF EGYPT, AND TO TAKE THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND. REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE DELIVERED ….YOU ARE DELIVERED FROM AND DELIVERED TO.
IV. DON’T BE AFRAID TO PRESS ON TO THE MARK
PRESS TOWARD THE MARK OF THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. YOU’VE GOT TO PRESS ON! LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TELL THEM. NOW THAT I’M OUT OF THE BOAT; I’VE GOT TO PRESS ON. WHEN YOU PRESS FORWARD, YOU’LL FIND JESUS IS IN THE MIDST SO YOU WON’T SINK.
(A) ASK THE MAN WHO WAS SICK WITH PALSY.THE BIBLE SAYS “AND WHEN THEY COULD NOT COME NIGH UNTO HIM FOR THE PRESS, THEY UNCOVERED THE ROOF WHERE HE WAS; AND WHEN THEY HAD BROKEN IT UP, THEY LET DOWN THE BED WHEREIN THE SICK OF PALSY LAY. ALTHOGH HE WAS WILLING TO BE HEALED, IT WAS NOT UNTIL HE PRESSED FORWARD THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED. WHY. WHEN YOU ARE PRESSING, YOU CAN GET JESUS’ ATTENTION.
(B) THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD.
(C) ZACCHAEUS…. CHIEF AMONG THE PUBLIANS AND HE WAS RICH ALSO. HE SOUGHT JESUS, BUT COULD NOT SEE FOR THE CROWD…OR THE PRESS BECAUSE HE WAS OF LITTLE STATURE. WHEN YOU GET INTO THE PRESS GOD HAS A TENDENCY TO CALL YOU BY NAME AND WILL CLEAR HIS SCHEDULE TO HAVE A PERSONAL VISIT WITH YOU.LUKE 19:4-5.ZACCHAEUS CLIMED INTO THE TREE AND "JESUS SAID COME DOWN, TOAY I MUST ABIDE AT THY HOUSE." DO YOU NEED JESUS TO COME BY YOUR HOUSE. IT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PRESS FORWARD IN THE THINGS OF GOD. BECAUSE OUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES OUR ALTITUDE.
GOD WAS GRACIOUS TO ISREAL, BUT REBUKED THEM FOR THEIR MURMURINGS. HE PROVIDED MEAT, AND BREAD FOR THEM. BECAUSE HE IS NOT A LIAR, AND COULD NOT GO BACK ON HIS WORD. BUT WE STILL NEED TO PRESS FORWARD, JUST AS THEY DID.
TELL SOMEBODY TODAY; I’M GOING TO PRESS FORWARD BECAUSE GOD HAS ALREADY MADE A WAY FOR ME AND HAS GIVEN US THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME.
PRESS ON......
TOWARDS THE THINGS OF GOD CONCERNING YOU
PRESS ON.... MATTER WHAT COMES YOUR WAY
PRESS...TO THE FINISH LINE
PRESS TOWARDS YOUR CANAAN LAND
PRESS TOWARDS THE CROWN OF LIFE.
JESUS, HAD TO PRESS FORWARD, EVEN IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, BUT HE NEVER TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF THE PRIZE. THE FATHER’S WILL WAS HIS ULTMATE DESIRE, AND TO DO THAT WAS HIS ULTIMATE PURPOSE.
V. GOD WILL PROVIDE!
JUST AS THE LORD PROVIDED FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, HE IS STILL PROVIDING FOR US TODAY! THE BIBLE SAYS HE IS THE "SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVERMORE". CAN YOU TRUST GOD TO PROVIDE FOR YOU. DON’T FORGET THE TESTIMONIES OF THE PAST AND HOW GOD BROUGHT YOU THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBILATIONS. DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF MAKING PERMANENT DECISIONS BASED ON TEMPORARY CIRCUMSTANCES! GOD HASN’T CHANGED! SO DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD, BECAUSE HE HASN’T GIVEN UP ON US! TRUST IN THE LORD, WAIT ON HIM, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART.
JEHOVAH-SHALOM
