Bondage Mentality (satan's trap)

We know that God sent Moses to set His people free from over 400 years of captivity in Egypt. For generations of God’s people, bondage was all they knew. They had never experienced freedom, never

been their own Nation or people…only slaves to Egypt. During that time, they’d watched how the Egyptians worshiped idols, and conducted their lives in a worldly fashion. The Israelites called themselves the “people of God” and understood that they were different, but for most, it was only a tradition – a part of their heritage as Jews. Moses was the only one who had a personal encounter with the Living God.

So when the time came to deliver the people, God showed His strength through many signs and wonders. The plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the cloud by day and fire by night – one might imagine the Israelites would have seen God’s protection, and from that moment on, lived happily ever after.

You know the story…there was no happy ending for this group. Instead, at the first sign of trouble, they cried and complained “Did you bring us out here to die? It would be better for us to go back to Egypt!” Unfortunately this would become their constant motto.

What was so great about Egypt? With the exception of being slaves, did they not have it so bad? NO! They were in terrible bondage. They constantly cried out and asked God to deliver them. So why would they ever think it would be better to go back? …because they had a bondage mentality.

As uncomfortable as it was, it was comfortable because they knew what to expect. Humans are great at learning to cope with bad situations, rather than pressing through the challenges necessary to change. Many times we are unhappy with our circumstances and we earnestly pray to be delivered OUT of it…but when we don’t understand the methods God uses, or the direction He’s taking us, we run back to our “Egypt” – the fear of the unknown is sometimes greater than remaining in our bondage. What’s the key to being set free? You have to trust God’s plan even when you don’t understand it and you have to desire freedom more than what’s comfortable.

So, they were free from Egypt and headed toward their “promise land” – but the problem remained…the only thing that had changed was their location. The people were physically free, but still bound by wrong mindsets. They were full of doubt and unbelief that good things were really happening for them. Years of memories from being controlled by fear and intimidation, had left it’s mark. This is true for us today as well – Jesus came to set us free, but we MUST renew our minds.

Rom. 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” New Living Translation

Perhaps the murmuring and complaining were a result of resentment that God didn’t come through the way they’d expected. Have you ever felt disappointed when you’ve prayed and asked God to move on your behalf, and you had it all worked out in your head what it would look like? If so, you know that God rarely ever does things they way we think. In their mind, they might of thought the Lord would give them Egypt. Instead, He wanted to take them on a journey to a new land.