Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.
- Exodus 2:23-25
So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
- Numbers 14:1-4
What a bizarre thought - That we would yearn to be in bondage! Not us...not me...no way!
However our words, all the wonderful songs we sing about freedom, the declarations we make, all contradict our actions.
While in bondage, we come to trust the things that hold us. They become our friend, our companions that simplify our life. Bondage makes daily life definable. It creates boundries that cannot be crossed. Clear lines of definition create a sense of safety. We no longer need the still small voice of God within. And anyway...that still small voice feels far to nebulous to us.
You see, it is a dangerous thing to be free. Suddenly the familiar walls no longer surround us. We feel exposed, naked, and vulnerable. The only guidance we receive comes from the still small voice of Holy Spirit. We are face with insurmountable obstacles. Suddenly the familiarity of our former bondage beckons us. We rationalize that it really was not so bad, being controlled. In fact it certainly feels much more safe than freedom.
"And so... "A dog returns to his vomit" and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
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2 comments:
Do we yearn for bondage or for security? And do we confuse comfort with complacency? Comfort and security are important in providing an atmosphere where people can grow and reach their potential. We want our children to be comfortable and secure in their homes, or their classrooms. But that doesn't mean that we settle for allowing them to be complacent. I don't want to return to bondage, but there's still something missing in being disconnected.
I don't think there is a correlation between Biblical connection with other believers and bondage. Connection is God's design, bondage is not.
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