The desert had a power over men, linking their destinies or pulling them far asunder.”
–Zane Grey (Captives of the Desert)
“And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
–Exodus 16:3 (NKJV)
—————————
Every so often I get songs going through my head. They’re there in the night when I happen to wake up, and again in the morning as I yawn and get out of bed. In between slumber and waking up I find them wandering through my brain. Sometimes they just occur like a jingle from a commercial. However, sometimes they bring a real truth and thought to me. Well, for the last couple of weeks I’ve had a couple of songs running rampant, so whichever is the case I’m going to share one with you.
This one was written back in 1908, by Margaret J. Harris. I have no clue the last time I heard this song, probably way back when I was a kid attending Boulder First Assembly of God.
I long ago left Egypt for the promised land,
I trusted in my Savior, and to His guiding hand;
He led me out to vict’ry through the great Red Sea,
I sang a song of triumph, and shouted, I am free!
Yeehaw! That’s cowboy lingo, for “I am free!” The people wanted a deliverer and Moses entered the scene, but they were only a few days on the way when they started to complain. Look at the echo scripture, “we had this in Egypt, we had that in Egypt, woe is us now we are going to die in the wilderness.” Remember, Egypt is a type of the world in Scripture, a place of sin. Far too many Christians today are enjoying the pleasures of Egypt. I wonder how many of them want to be taken out of their pleasures?
I followed close beside Him, and the land soon found,
I did not halt or tremble, for Canaan I was bound;
My Guide I fully trusted, and He led me in,
I shouted hallelujah, my heart is free from sin.
Yippi-ki-yay! That’s cowboy lingo, for “Hallelujah”! When we stay close to Jesus, sin and its allurements will diminish. No longer will we want anything to do with the lifestyle back in Egypt. When we trust Him with our lives, the things of this world grow dim. The more we want of Jesus the less we want of the world.
I started for the highlands where the fruits abound,
I pitched my tent near Hebron, there grapes of Eschol found,
With milk and honey flowing, and new wine so free;
I have no love for Egypt, it has no charms for me.
The lure and lust of Egypt has gone. That’s why I get so puzzled when half the time on facebook I see Christians with a bottle in their hands (and no, it’s not sody-pop). They talk more about their last hangover, or how good this tastes, or what they did over the weekend. But, that’s not my style. I want to be close to the Lord; I want to make sure that Egypt has no charm for me. Remember, the appearance of evil should not be seen around us. We should not allow things to tempt the weaker brother/sister.
My heart is so enraptured as I press along;
Each day I find new blessings which fill my heart with song;
I’m ever marching onward to that land on high,
Someday I’ll reach my mansion that’s builded in the sky.
You need not look for me, down in Egypt’s sand,
For I have pitched my tent far up in Beulah land.
I’m trying to work my way as far as I can away from Egypt’s border. I’m like the writer of this song, marching onward. Egypt, get behind me. Hmmm, instead of sand, I plodding on ground, fertile soil. Oh, sometimes a rock gets in the way. It is supposed to be holy ground, so I’m doing my best not to bring any of Egypt with me. What’s that? Did you hear it? There’s no more pounding of nails in my home on high. Friend, don’t you be lookin’ for me down in Egypt’s sand!
—————————
Today in the Texas Revolution: Battle of Copano–Gen. Urrea captures the port of Copano. The Mexicans used it to obtain reinforcements and send the injured and prisoners to Mexico.