Day two: Learn from the past. History tends to repeat itself unless we learn the lessons it offers us.

I have a confession to make… I’m directionally impaired and so easily distracted. So, I don’t go anywhere without turning on my GPS, even when I know the way. I find the map a visual reminder of my destination. And when I miss a turn, I love the way Google reroutes me so I can get back on track.
 
The Bible serves the same function in our lives. In fact, all the stories in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, serve as a roadmap to freedom.
 
We’re going to look at one of these stories during our 21 days. This is the ultimate road trip, from oppression to boundless freedom. Spoiler Alert: the trip gets ugly. There’s whining and complaining and some wrong turns and detours.
 
When I read the story of the Exodus in my younger years, I used to look at all the mistakes the Israelites made and feel smug. If I was the one taking that road trip, I’d get it right. But that’s what I thought before I understood my own frailties… before I found myself in the middle of nowhere after one too many wrong turns and missed exits.
 
Now I understand what they went through. And I approach this story, not with smugness, but with humility, learning from their mistakes so I can make better choices.
 
That’s what makes reading the Old Testament so important. It’s like having 20/20 vision.

Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6

1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters,[a] about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did… 


Prayer Prompt: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how your own journey to freedom parallels the Exodus story and ask Him to help you change in those areas that have kept you stuck.