“Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wildereness.” (Exodus 14:12)

Is this not the basic attitude of many today as well: “Leave us alone.” Don’t bother us spiritually. We are “content” just going along as we are; don’t bring God into our lives and complicate things. And indeed, stepping out with the Lord is more “messy” than just “going along.”

When Israel was in captivity in Egypt, they at least knew what to expect. They had settled lives. But when God sent Moses and called them to follow Him, they had to be careful to obey Him in specific ways; they were forced to pack up and leave Egypt; they faced the ordeal of being terrorized by the Egyptian army, then cry out desperately to the Lord, and experience His salvation. It was HARD. But it was also miraculous and glorious for each one who had a part in it.

In the same way, walking with the Lord today can actually be much harder in sme ways than just “going along” without Him. Don’t let anyone tell you that following Jesus is easy: “Just give your life to Jesus”, etc. No, It will bring complications, trials, fears, sacrifices and crises that you never knew before — but you will also experience glimpses of glory here on earth — as well as the fullness of the glory of God in heaven forever — and that is worth it all. Don’t be tempted to tell the Lord who calls you: “Just leave us alone.”