Don’t Get Too Comfortable

Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt

Exodus 1: 8

Years ago, at one of the companies where I worked, I instructed one of my direct reports to shadow another staff member and gradually assume their responsibilities. The other staff member approached me and complained about how my staff member had been doing her job and wanted me to intervene. My response to her was, “The Holy Spirit told me you’re leaving this company soon, and your replacement will not be found quickly. I’m simply providing insurance.” True to my intuition, she resigned a couple of months later, and her position remained vacant for over a year. Without the foresight provided by the Holy Spirit, I would have been stranded. 

This is similar to what happened to the Israelites in the opening part of Exodus, with the exception that they became stranded because they were unprepared for the change. Joseph had previously warned his brothers in Genesis 46:33-34,  “When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

The ploy to relocate the Israelites specifically to Goshen was not merely an agricultural decision; it was a political move to guarantee the Israelites a place in Egypt despite the Egyptians’ disdain for their primary occupation. As long as Joseph was alive and remained the prime minister, the Israelites were untouchable. Instead of putting plans in place to sustain this peace beyond Joseph, they became comfortable, disregarded caution, and simply continued to be “…exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7).

Many years later, a new government emerged, and with the Israelites completely detached from Egypt’s political realities, the new policies left them helpless and hopeless. This is the peril of becoming overly comfortable without any tangible plans for the future. 

Are you prepared for the future?

Do you have a clear life roadmap, or are you just merely allowing life to dictate your direction? Will your skills be relevant ten years from now? What will your life be like in retirement? How long do you intend to remain in your current job, and do you have an exit plan? What will be the outcome of your spiritual journey by the end of this year, and how will you assess it? It’s a new year; don’t become too comfortable. Fight! It begins now with a clear battle strategy. Are you ready for battle?

PRAYER