WHY GOD LEADS THROUGH A LONGER ROUTE Pt.2

PURGING AND PRUNING

The Jews had spent centuries in slavery. Generations have lived in Egyptian communities and they have picked one or two things from the Egyptian culture and way of life that is anti Yahweh. Egyptian culture was a paganistic culture. God sent the ten plagues to humiliate ten major gods in Egypt. You'll agree with me that the older generation who entered into Egypt would be purer in worship and consecration than the children who were born in Egypt. The reason is simple; children are easily influenced by their immediate environment. After they entered the wilderness, one of the things God did quickly was to give them the decalogue( 10 commandments) so that they will be guided on how to relate with Him and others, Ex 20. God couldn't have launched them into the promised land in a hurry because he needed to take Egypt out of them after taking them out of Egypt. This requires time. That's pruning and purging.

We can see an example of this point in the life of Moses. In the new testament, we were told that Moses( the liberator) was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt: "Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action."(Acts7:22). He learnt the ways and culture of the Egyptians formally and informally. However, God couldn't use him with all the trainings he had in Egypt because the Egyptian way of doing things was totally against His ways. God had to lead Moses into the wilderness for training, pruning and purging. God took him out of Egypt and took Egypt out of him. It is plausible that the children of Israel also needed that 'out of Egypt' treatment by God before He could launch them into the promised land so He led them through a longer route so that He could get them accustomed to His ways by purging and pruning Egypt out of them.

Coming to Christ is akin to leaving Egypt. You're on a journey to a promised land. Most believers always wonder why certain good promises from the Lord hasn't come to pass. They have heard so many "thus saith the Lord" concerning their lives and ministries but no single fulfillment. Some have prayed and fasted, sown seeds and do all manner of things yet there is no change. In God's wisdom, there are certain promises that won't be fulfilled until He prunes and purge Egypt out of your life because the culture of Egypt is incompatible with the culture of the kingdom. There's always a period in-between the promise and its fulfilment. That's the period God uses for pruning and purging us. If you desire to enter into the fullness of God's promises for your life, you must submit to the dealings of God: "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."(John15:2).