Deuteronomy 6:23: “But he brought us out from [Egypt] to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.” [NIV]
“He brought us out … to bring us in.” The Israelites were camped next to the Jordan River just across from the Promised Land. Moses is reminding the nation about everything that has happened to them since God brought them out of Egypt, which included 40 years of wilderness wanderings while they got their act together.
God had brought them out of Egypt to bring them into the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They could have gotten there in 11 days. That was all – 11 days; instead it took them 40 years.
Why so long to realize the wonderful inheritance they had in God? Because they were stiff-necked, rebellious murmurers and grumblers. Every time they encountered a challenge or difficulty they wanted to run back to Egypt, to the land of “cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.” Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10 that what happened to Israel after their exit from Egypt were examples and warnings to us so that we might not follow in their footsteps.
“He brought us out … to bring us in.” God through the salvation of Jesus Christ brought us out of sin and darkness for a purpose – “to bring us in….” He brought us out so that we “may know the hope to which he has called [us], the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” [Eph 1:18-19 NIV]
I guess my thought today is, are we really living in the hope, the riches, the inheritance, and His incomparably great power, or are we, like Israel was, still wandering around in the wilderness, saved but stiff-necked rebellious, murmuring and grumbling?
Father God, I want to live in Your presence and in Your power and in Your promises. Remove my hard heart, my rebellious will, my murmuring and grumbling spirit. Amen.
