“Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him but repudiated him, and in their hearts, they turned back to Egypt.” (Acts 7:39)
You don’t have to set foot in Egypt to give your heart to Egypt. Ironically, the generation of Israelites who grumbled and complained in the wilderness about the journey to the promised land but longed for Egypt’s garlic and onions ended up seeing neither destination. Never again would they see Egypt, and they would never enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey.
That generation is a proverb. They remind us of the danger of balking at adversity. That generation believed turning back would fix the problem. It never does. Hard times are a part and parcel of the life of a Christian. Faith requires sacrifice and cold nights on a lonely, narrow way. If your faith is hard sometimes, you are doing it right.
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Acts 7:30-41
Questions to ask:
- How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
- How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
- What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision