Israelite's, Basketball, Your Mind

It's amazing what you can get used to. It's easy for us as humans to get used to our surroundings. It could be the city you live in, the type of food you eat, the people you hang around, etc... I've seen and been apart of sports teams in the past where we get used to losing games. My high school basketball team easily had one of the worst losing mindsets that you could have. We would have already lost most games before we even started playing.

It's a horrible place to be. You know there is no hope, no chance, and no good ending. The Israelite's had this same outlook on life. In Exodus, Moses was sent to lead them out of slavery and into a better life that God had prepared for them. However, when Moses tried to get his people freed, Pharaoh simply punished them more and made them work even harder. In chapter 6 the Lord told Moses to tell the people that He will redeem them and set them free. When Moses relayed God's message to them the Israelites simply "refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery" (Exodus 6:9). These people simply got used to the slavery, beatings, and bondage. Even when God promised to deliver them, they didn't believe because of their present circumstances.

I wonder how many of us, if we're honest, would say I've gotten used to living away from God. If you're like me, there are times when you confess that you have loved God more, given more, been more compassionate, prayed more, etc... It's a good thing to recognize that your relationship with God isn't as good as it used to be. It's a totally dangerous place to be when you have gotten so used to your lifestyle that you don't recognize God's redemptive promise.