Deprograming the Mind

When Israel left Egypt for the promised land, it took them forty years to arrive there. The people I talk to about this often say it is their faithlessness and stubbornness that caused them to wander around the wilderness. Yes, this may be part of the reasons, however, it is easy to look from the outside and wonder why it is after seeing the miracles (parted red sea) of God and being guided day and night by cloud and fire respectively, they couldn't simply have been obedient. I mean to me the problem seems to be in the mind and what one is programmed to focus on.

Before speaking, I like to analyse the situation and see how practically the lessons we learn from scripture is applicable today. When I think of the background of the Israelites before the rescuing, they were slaves that were harshly treated by their Egyptian slave masters for a long time. Moreover, because of this, they saw themselves as inferior.  Secondly, even though they acknowledged God, they were exposed to Egyptian Idol gods and this was their environment for about 400 years (many generations). People act according to what they know and exposed to. It may be because they were constantly tormented that they became fearful. And since they were slaves, they were accustomed to that way of life, in a way they had accepted their situation even though they prayed for help.

During the rescue, the bible describes their response to the many challenges they faced. For example, Numbers 16:12-14 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come before you! Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness and that you now treat us like your subjects? What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come.” They had accepted their life in Egypt as it is and couldn't see and believe anything else was better despite the promise and the miracles they saw e.g.parting of the sea. I do not think it was simply just an issue of faith, rather it was the mind that was programmed a certain way for centuries from one generation to the next.

Furthermore, in Exodus 32:1-2 states that when the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” This is what they learned from the Egyptians who had many gods they worshipped. Even Aaron was part of this team for making a golden calf to lead them even when he worked so closely with Moses from the time of appearing in front of Pharoah. 

Lastly, in Numbers 13 we learn about the 12 men that were sent to spy out the land and only 2 of them came back with a good report the other 10 had a part report that spread. Moreover, in verse 33 the men described themselves feeling like grasshoppers next to the giants, they felt inferior a feeling that is not new to them. They saw and reacted to what they saw with fear. One thing I've learnt is that fear is contagious especially to those whose minds are not educated in the Lord (knowing God) while faith isn't. Faith is hoping for things not seen as if they are, faith is intentional and is independent of one's circumstances. 

What these people were programmed to believe while in Egypt, failing to change their minds and believe God (whom they cried to) and believing the bad report may be contributing factors that cost them the promised Land. This includes also Moses. Joshua, Caleb and the new generation (after 40 years) are the ones made it to the promised land. The new generation whose minds were fashioned from a young age to believe in God, unlike the former generation where it was difficult to convince a mind programmed for many years with many miracles in a few years.

This is a case of you can take people out of Egypt but you can't take Egypt out of them. This is why I believe the renewing of the mind is vitally important in a Christian’s life today, believing what God says in the word and not believing what the world says about you. The Lord says you are loved, forgiven, healed, overcome, victorious, made in His image and has given you hope and a future amongst other wonderful things. Programme oneself with God's word and unlearning or deprogramming one's mind of things that oppose God's word. The Israelites at the time missed their land of milk and honey because they lacked faith, we cannot afford to be stumbling blocks to our bright future due to challenges. It is in these times that God stretches our character and renews our mind further to know Him deeper and increase our trust in Him.