Get out of Egypt

Let me begin with a humorous story. A man moved into a new neighborhood and was eager to make friends. So, he went next door and knocked. A woman opened the door, and before he could say anything, she blurted out, "My husband is home!" The man, taken aback, responded, "Oh, well, I'm not here to see him. I just came to introduce myself!" It seems she was so accustomed to door-to-door salespeople that she'd forgotten there could be other reasons for a knock at her door!

Just as the woman was stuck in her mindset, often, we too can find ourselves stuck in our own 'Egypts.' And this is the theme of our sermon today - "Get Out of Egypt." Our guiding verse is Exodus 14:12, "Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

In the Bible, 'Egypt' is often symbolic of a place of bondage and oppression. The Israelites were physically enslaved in Egypt, but when God led them out, they often found themselves mentally and emotionally stuck in 'Egypt.' They even longed to return, forgetting their suffering and focusing only on the leeks and onions they used to eat.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty we are free at last." The Israelites were physically free from Egypt, but mentally, they were still enslaved. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron, even expressing a desire to return to their bondage because of the hardships of the journey.

We too can find ourselves stuck in our own 'Egypts.' It might be a sinful habit, a toxic relationship, a negative mindset, or an unhealthy lifestyle. God wants to lead us out of our 'Egypts,' but often, we cling to the familiar, even if it's harmful.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." To get out of Egypt, we need to renew our minds, to let go of the old and embrace the new life that God offers us.

Consider the story of the prodigal son. He found himself in his own 'Egypt' when he squandered his wealth in wild living. But when he 'came to his senses,' he decided to leave his 'Egypt' and return to his father's house.

Let's pray: "Dear God, help us identify our 'Egypts' and give us the strength to leave them behind. Transform and renew our minds, Lord, that we may walk in the freedom that You offer us. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen."

Brothers and sisters, as we move into this week, let's commit to 'Get Out of Egypt.' Whatever your 'Egypt' is, remember that God is with you, and through Him, you have the power to break free.

May God guide you and bless you as you journey out of your Egypt into His promised land. Amen.