Over the last few weeks, I have been drawn to these verses in Isaiah.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Long ago my people chose to live in Egypt. Now they are oppressed by Assyria.  What is this?” asks the Lord. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long. But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.”
_{Isaiah 52:4-6 NLT}

I wonder, Why do God’s people continue to choose slavery? And the deeper question… Is there a place of captivity I am drawn to? Is there some Egypt (insert: worldly thing) I am trusting to ensure freedom?

The Israelites chose to live in Egypt because God used the country to provide for them during the famine. But when the famine was over, they made the choice to stay instead of returning to the land God had given them. Oh, I am sure they had a multitude of great reasons. Moving is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard physical work. Some things must be left behind. Not to mention the uncertainty of what they would find when they returned home. I get why they chose to stay. It was easier. Egypt provided all they needed, until it didn’t. Until all they needed was to be free of the very choice they made.

I’m not that much different. I choose easy. I turn to worldly things to provide comfort and security. I look to powerless things to make me feel more in control. I dread what might happen and make plans for the worst. In the end, I don’t feel a bit freer, and I hear Spirit’s whisper, Why are you enslaved again?

I guess I’ve found an answer to my question, Why do God’s people continue to choose slavery? We are all looking for comfort, security, and worth. These are basic needs we all have, even created to have. Finding these things in God leads to freedom, and depending on anything else leads to slavery.