When God delivered the Israelites from slavery and Moses led them out of Egypt, it was just the beginning of their long journey to the Promised Land and the establishment of their kingdom. I have to wonder if it would have seemed simpler to turn over Egypt to the Israelites instead of taking them to a place far away. They were highly respected after Joseph saved that nation from starvation. They had been given choice land to cultivate and thrived in that place. The infrastructure existed, largely through the hard labor of the Israelites, and they could have been restored to prominence.
But God had another plan. They had to leave their place of subjugation. Fast. They didn’t even finish cooking their meals.
“So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders” (Ex 12:34).
Once their masters’ hold was broken, it was time to pack up and leave. About six hundred thousand men (plus women and children) set out on foot. They took their flocks and herds with them. It was, indeed, a massive exodus. Scripture tells us they “could not delay” (v 39). When God secured their freedom, they immediately walked away.
And walk they did.
“The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night” (Ex 13:21).
The walk wasn’t easy. Their captors pursued them. The people were tired and afraid. Still, God commanded Moses, “Tell the sons of Israel to go forward” (Ex 14:15, emphasis added).
Even after their miraculous escape from Pharoah’s army, many Israelites sought to return to Egypt because it seemed easier. It was all they had known. But their kingdom did not lie behind them. Only their captivity did. Security and prosperity waited for them, but they had to keep going forward.
In many ways, this is the journey we are still on today. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, we pursue His kingdom reign by walking away from our past captivity.
“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).
Only the righteous can experience God’s kingdom on earth. Fortunately, it’s not our righteousness that carries us there, it’s the right standing we inherit in Christ. But to live in His kingdom now means living under His rule and reign. That means obedience.
Paul posed this question to the believers in Corinth: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9). He then describes a litany of sinful behavior that prevents people from entering this domain. He’s not talking about eternal salvation. In fact, he points out, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (v 11). He was saying that we have to walk away from our sinful past in order to experience the kingdom of heaven here on earth. He even adds urgency to it by saying, “Flee immorality” (v 18). Run from it!
He repeats this idea in other letters to believers by saying “flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace…” (2 Timothy 2:22) and “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Instead, he says to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The writer of Hebrews tells us to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1).
Like the Israelites, God is with us day and night through the Holy Spirit. He guides us, provides for us, encourages us, and, when necessary, corrects us. Habitually returning to sin leaves us wandering in the desert between deliverance and destiny. Many Christians inhabit this place. This is not God’s desire. He has prepared a place for us if we will seek His kingdom first, which means leaving our old ways behind and walking – no, running – to the bountiful life He has prepared for us. Obedience is the key to living under heaven’s reign in our daily life.
