What's in Egypt Besides the Pyramids?

I am a Christian Counselor now, but my undergraduate degree is in accounting.  I can't say I prayed about that decision, even though I was a Christian when I attended college.  I just wanted a degree where I could get a job.

I got a job.  For years I felt tied to it.  I worked extremely long hours and felt it consumed my life.  While it was financially rewarding, personally I felt empty, frustrated, and drained.  After the birth of our second son, my husband and I made the decision to sacrifice the financial security the job provided and for me to stay home with our two sons.  I felt I had been set free to enjoy life!

I think I can relate a little to how the Israelites must have felt after they left Egypt.  They were free!

And look at the miracles God performed for them when He delivered them.  He protected their first-born while taking the lives of the first-born of the Egyptians.  He parted the Red Sea and released its waters just in time to wash away the Egyptian army that was in hot pursuit.   He provided manna, quail, and water.  God spoke to them from the mountain, then dwelt among them in the tabernacle.  He led them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night.  How could they be anything but full of anticipation at what God was going to do next?

But,  instead of being excited about where God was taking them, Israel quickly got caught up in thinking about what they thought they had left behind.  God had spent a few months preparing Israel for the actual 11 day journey from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea, on the outskirts of Canaan.  About 3 days into the journey to Canaan, the Israelites started whining and complaining.  Numbers 11 : 1 - 5 says:  And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted.  But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”  Numbers 20: 1 - 5 : "You brought us into this desert, and now we and our livestock are going to die! Egypt was better than this horrible place. At least there we had grain and figs and grapevines and pomegranates. But now we don't even have any water."


What?  Slavery in Egypt was better than God promising you victory over your enemies and giving you everything you could possibly need??  Are they crazy?  What about those taskmasters that the people served under that the Bible describes as ruthless?  The Pharaoh who ordered that their baby boys be killed?  


 Did they really believe they would go back to Egypt and enjoy all the fresh seafood, vegetables, and fruit juice they wanted?  Why would anyone want to go to Egypt other than to see the pyramids anyway?

As I smugly judged the Israelites for their bad attitude, the Holy Spirit convicted me of mine.  I, too, have been guilty of looking back at my Egypt and remembering it wrong.  "God, at least when I worked in the financial field I had a good pay check.  Do you know what I would be making now if I hadn't quit?" "God, why didn't I just stick it out?  I could be getting ready to retire now."  "God, most people don't really appreciate what I do.  I feel very taken for granted."


What do I do at times?  Whine.  Complain.  I know God gets just as tired of me whining as He did Israel.   Here he has blessed me and given me opportunities that I didn't deserve.  God provided a way out for me when I made a decision without consulting Him.  He blessed me with precious time with my husband and children.  He gave me an opportunity to serve Him by counseling people who are struggling.

By the way, remember Israel's comments about figs, grapes, and pomegranates in Egypt?   Look what Numbers 13 : 23 said the advance party brought back from Canaan:  "They cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes.  Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs."  One cluster of grapes took 2 men to carry!  God's promise for their future exceeds anything they ever thought they had in the past!


What does God have planned for me?  I don't know, but I intend to quit complaining that I don't have what I never had in the first place.  Instead, as it says in Philippians 3:13:  I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.  I am focusing on God's promises for my future!


"Father, forgive me for my unappreciative attitude.  Thank you for second chances.  Forgive me for complaining.  Lord, I know you have blessed me far beyond what I have ever deserved.  Thank you for opportunities past and for the ones to come."