Can’t Go Back – The Past is Not the Future
Transition is the process of moving FROM one reality TO something different.
Israel’s new future was promised to them in Abram and was provided for them in Moses.
- God called Abram out with a promise –
Gen 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
- God commissioned Moses with a purpose –
Exodus 3:9-10 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
Parkview’s promise AND provision is found in Jesus Christ Himself –
Matthew 16:18 …I WILL build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.
Despite God’s vision and provision, Israel struggled to move forward to their future –
Numbers 11:4-6 (NLT)
4 Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. 5 “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. 6 But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”
A Key Principle of Transition: The future is not found in the past.
- Israel had to bear the change of their new reality
Israel was living in God’s surprising goodness everyday!! BUT…they “began to crave the good things of Egypt … WE REMEMBER…”
– they remembered the pleasure of foods that satisfied their appetites (& preferences)
– they remembered the security of predictable routines and expectations
– they remembered the easy parts of their former lives
Their memories were misleading – they focused on small details of daily life and lost perspective on the bigger story of their transition –
Exodus 1:11-14
11 … the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor… the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. 14 They made their lives bitter…
Application – a better future is not found in recreating an idealized past
Change is inherent to transition – Parkview’s new future WILL be different
Key principle expanded: The future is not found in the past, but the future is founded on the past.
We must go forward with the confidence that our history has prepared us to embrace the changes of our future.
- Israel’s change included inherent risk…
Risk – definition – exposure to danger, harm or loss.
Israel was not a risk-taking nation:
Exodus 14:10-12
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
There are really only 2 possible responses to risk of any kind –
1 – face it with courage
2 – avoid it in fear
Israel’s fear guaranteed their death in the wilderness over the next 40 years. Only Joshua and Caleb, the courageous ones of that generation, saw the promised land.
- Risk requires intentional action and diligent work
Israel’s exodus meant they had to work harder to survive the transition.
They confessed their lack of desire for the adventure of the transition: :… our appetites are gone…” (Num 11:6)
When the drive to succeed is gone, so is success.
Success follows a commitment to work that overcomes any feeling to procrastinate or rest or quit.