The Tie of Egypt

If the necktie I put on this morning for church could talk, I would have had to tie it in a knot, stick it in a drawer and nail the drawer shut. (Hey, other members of my "family" would have locked in the car trunk and made it "swim witt de fishes"!!)

That's because it is from the days when I had an active romantic life. Despite the cleaning, there may still be enough DNA from women's cheeks resting on my chest to tell the truth, that I'd rather be back in the arms of a woman this morning sharing kisses that warm through the day than sitting on a pew in church. Or at least to be one of those men whose arms are resting on the back of the pew behind their sweethearts' heads during services as mine once was. There is no cleaning that will wash out the memories.

The tie wasn't manufactured in Egypt but the drawing back to the "good old days" of a former life that really was not very good despite all the goodness that GOD provides in the here and now has a connection that goes back to ancient Egypt. The Israelites freed from slavery in Egypt by GOD and led into a new lifestyle by Moses knew that tie, but theirs was a tie to the "good old days" of slavery when they had onions and leeks to eat. Forget the fact that GOD had freed them from slavery, beatings, and certain death after a life of hopelessness. Forget the fact that He was providing them with literal food from Heaven and caring for every need to the point that not even their clothing wore out in 40 years. He revealed Himself to them in unique relationship among the nations, showed them daily miracles, personally guided them and gave them honor and victory and supply at every turn. But they, like me, were still thinking of what was. As I taste past kisses, they tasted past meals, and even the bread of Heaven didn't seem to take the hunger of the memories away. We are souls encased in flesh and, as JESUS said, the Spirit may be willing, but even in the Believer the flesh is weak. Besides, we don't have to take personal responsibility do we? After all, the Israelites complained to Moses, if they were the chosen people there should be no want involved, no waiting for what they desired. And it's not my fault if even my friends won't help me find a woman and keep their daughters away from me. :)

So what is the answer? The symbology of tightening a necktie around your neck is appropriate because no matter how you view it, the answer is always death. I have resisted, by the Grace of GOD, going back to the Egypt of my past because I know that living only for the flesh results in death. And that is the answer GOD had for the Israelites, too. For those who would not give up the past in favor of a future with Him their grumbling grew to the point of accusing the One who had led them out of death info life of trying to kill them and their children. So He gave them what they wanted...death...but showed that He was able and willing to let their children live.

And that, death, is the same answer JESUS has for me, and for anyone who still has a taste for the "good old days" of the grave instead of new life. Crucify the flesh. We must die daily to the past, forgetting what is behind, in order to take hold of today and tomorrow with both hands. In order to get the taste of the past out of our mouths we must taste and see that the LORD is good every day to the point of flooding out the old tastes of the flesh.

Will we do it perfectly? No. That is why it is a daily thing. But as we consider ourselves dead to the world and hidden with Christ in GOD, we will have the strength to go on, one step at a time, one hour at a time. Because like the Israelites, we do not travel alone but have the LORD Himself with us to lead the way and console us as He binds us to Himself and breaks the ties to the past.