Some points to consider:
The battle for the mind of man is the battle for the souls of men.
The prominent parts of the soul are man’s mind, will and emotion.
The Will is the organ of decision, therefore the master of the man.
The Mind is the organ of thought.
The Emotion is the organ of affection.
But for our sake, simply see the mind of man as the seat of emotion, intellect (thought) and will.
It’s a battle for man’s attention - his mind (emotion, thought and will). Whoever can capture the mind of man captures his attention, and will eventually control his emotion, thought and will.
When God wanted to take Israel out of Egypt, He first spoke to them of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, painting a vivid picture of the promised land to them. He also reminded them of His promise to their ancestors, and that He has come to fulfill it. All of this was to capture their mind, their attention, and so positively affect their emotion, thought and will.
Because of their prosperity, the mind of Israel was settled and set in place in Egypt, and nothing will move them. The scripture talks of the hard heart of Pharaoh, Israel’s heart was hard too, not wanting to move out. It actually took more than just speaking to them: to change their mind, God allowed them to suffer, and be treated as foreigners, so that they will remember that they were sojourners. God who knows the complexity and the inner workings of the mind of man, made another move to address the mindset of Israel.
Consider the following:
Exodus 13:17-18 - When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
Praise God for His thoughtfulness and faithfulness, who did not expose His people to what they could not bear. God is faithful, He will not allow you to go through what He has not prepared you for.
Even now, open your eyes wide and listen carefully, God has already provided a way of escape for you out of the quagmire.
Relevant texts: Numbers 13:1-33; 1 Samuel 17:1-58;
Key Verses:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit - Proverbs 18:21
Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” - Ecclesiastes 8:4
-Pastor David.
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