Title: Exodus, Wilderness and Glory
Escape means freedom from freedom, bondage, and freedom from the hustle and bustle of life you don't want. Escape is the escape from all the conditions that make us unhappy: slavery, debt, disease, anxiety, suffering. But just escaping doesn't make you happy right away. Escape is not an honor. There are many free people who live miserable lives like slaves. There are many people who have no debt but live in poverty. Just because you're sick doesn't mean you're healthy. A truly glorious life in a true sense of freedom, abundant life, a healthy body, is on the other side of the wilderness of trials and tribulations.
Exodus, wilderness, and glory are the great flows of Israel's history, they are the basic process of receiving Jesus Christ, being born again, and leading to sanctification, and they are also the principles of creation that an individual must not forget as they navigate the rough seas of life. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. There is no resurrection without the cross. It is said that the medicine is used in the mouth. The message of all these verses is clear. The glory is to be on the other side of the wilderness.
2. Escape ( Exodus )
After 430 years of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were led out of Egypt by Moses and Aaron. Exodus was not easy. After receiving the 10 plagues, Pharaoh was reluctant to let Israel go. It is said that it would be a pity not to light a bonfire on the New Moon. Once you get caught up in something, after a long time, you get used to it, so it is the custom of people to live like this. The important thing here is to restore the will to escape.
If you look at Dante's new song Hell, there is a gate to hell, and above that gate, there is nothing created before me except eternity, and I will remain until eternity. Now, you who enter through this gate, throw away all your hopes. Hell is a hopeless place. Israel's life in Egypt was that hell. It was a life that lost a human life due to poverty, persecution, inhuman treatment, dirty environment, and abuse. But the Israelites had no hope or no way to escape from this hellish Egypt on their own.
Therefore Israel cried out to God. And God has heard!
Escape is not the only way. Escape without a direction is futile. Many young people who escape from the bondage of study wander and become frustrated. Why? They escaped, but there was no direction to force. God gave not only the grace of the Exodus, but also the direction to the <land of Canaan> flowing with milk and honey.
3. The wilderness ( Discipline )
However, God does not immediately lead them to Canaan, but sends them into the wilderness. He was sent to the wilderness to wash away the foul smell and scum such as slavery, vileness, and idolatry that had been tainted in his body, soul, and habits for 430 years. The wilderness is a training ground for the soul. In the wilderness, Israel swept away all unbelief, filth, and filth. The wilderness was the training ground for being born again. The wilderness was rather a blessing.
Every year in July-August, many people try to escape. Escape from the daily workplace, from the piles of paperwork, from the smog and noise pollution, to get fresh energy from the daily stress and anxiety.
They visit famous mountains, seas and valleys. However, when you go to the site, there is no coolness and rest that you want, and you return after suffering from vacation pollution due to traffic hell, gourmet fares, loud rooms, piles of garbage, and unpleasant environment. They escaped, but there was no right direction. Without God's guidance, the escape of man is so empty, and the result is only more desolation and weariness.
4. Glory
Israel went out into the wilderness and suffered to death. Israel was constantly complaining and complaining about the sandy wind, the severe temperature difference between day and night, pests such as scorpions, rattlesnakes and tarantulas, uncomfortable sleeping places and poor food. Did you come out of Egypt for this? is this happiness? Complaining I didn't know the complaints would end. But as time goes by, Israel breaks the order. Learn how to live. It is becoming increasingly purified.
The wilderness was a silent teacher and a training ground for life. The wilderness was a melting pot that transforms a sluggish person into a taut person, a quick-tempered person into a relaxed and relaxed person, and a self-centered person into a considerate person. Israel is now the people who can gain the glory of Canaan.
5. Closing Story /
It's time to rethink your vacation. The vacation method in this world is to go to a place where the mountains are good and the water is good. Of course, it takes time. However, there must be one thing that is different from this generation as we believers do not imitate this generation.
It is also important to take a good rest in a place with clean water and clean air under the blue sky and a beautiful view. However, we believers must have one more precious thing than that. It is < Training in the wilderness >. During this holiday season, believers must have at least one of the Word training, silence training, service training, prayer training, and obedience training. Only with that training can you achieve the glory of complete rest.