For the children of Israel there always seemed to a pull to return to bondage; to give themselves over to chains as opposed to freedom.  It was almost as if they had a case of the “couldn’t help its.”  For every little obstacle they faced they were soon ready to throw in the towel and return to what they formerly were. They spouted, “Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness,” (Exodus 14:12).

Lest we judge them too harshly perhaps we may need to rethink how oft we fight to stay where we were once comfortable.  God stretches our faith, pulling us to follow Him through what seems to be desert wildernesses.  His fulfilled plan is on the other side, yet to get there we have to venture out into the unknown territories where He calls us, step by step in our own walk of faith.

Alas, through the drudgery and turmoil of the march, that old familiar pull rears its ugly head once more and beckons us to stay in the comfortable; to stay where we know what each day will bring.  But, we know that settling will never get us to the other side of the wilderness.   Turning back will never propel us forward.

May we, through this day, venture forth where God is leading with a heart of faith that refuses to turn back.