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Day Three: Choosing to Leave

In a moment of desperation and anguish, we stand up for the spiritual values we believe in, just as Moses killed the Egyptian taskmaster. This may be the action of confronting someone we are in conflict with; it may mean making a change in our priorities, it may mean looking at an attitude that we need to let go of. Through that confrontation, the Lord now has something to work with. We are no longer spiritually asleep; Moses is no longer living in the household of Pharaoh. Something has been made alive in us, because we confronted the enslavement of daily ritual and routine of our lives in Egypt.

At first this new life–Moses–is weak and frail. But unknown to us the Lord is at work, strengthening and nurturing that new spiritual life. Moses is taken to Midian for a time of secret preparation. Midian is a time of gathering inner strength. It is a necessary refuge from the strife and confrontation in Egypt, a time of simple innocence and truth. We may not be fully conscious of the inner workings of Midian, but the Lord is there, preparing us for the tasks ahead. Similarly, a medical student might feel lost as an intern working as the lowest in a hierarch of doctors and may not be aware of all the things he is learning about being a doctor. It is a state of preparation for him the effects of which will be amplified as he progresses from intern to licensed doctor. The importance of the initial confrontation with Pharaoh cannot be overstated. We stand up for what we believe in, we make a small change in the ritual of our slavery in Egypt, and the effects of that act are multiplied by the secret workings of the Lord. In time, we become strong enough to actually leave Egypt and begin a real journey to Canaan.

Key Point:
The Lord always leaves us in freedom to make our own decisions. It is our choice whether or not we choose to leave slavery so that we can move forward and live spiritually.

Reflections
Describe something you need to stand up for in your life right now.

Imagine peace — Take a few minutes to write down what it feels like when you are peaceful and calm. How do you treat others? What does your inner voice say? What actions do you have to take to attain that peace?

Download this Reflection in printable form. (PDF)

Discussion Board
Share your thoughts on today's Journey in the discussion board.

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