“What Is This We Have Done?” When Freedom Feels Scarier Than Bondage

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.

The Philistines were a war-like people. They thrived on conflict. Peace was unnatural for them. And the Lord said, no, I’m not giving that to My people. They just got out of bondage, and they’re still dealing with a slave mentality. Bondage begins in the mind. That’s where the battlefield is. Even Jesus said it starts in your thoughts. Your mind is powerful, and we must protect it and guard it.

Exodus chapter 14 says, when the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants changed, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” They had begun to heal from the tragedy of losing their firstborn, and now they were ready to pursue again. That’s how the enemy works, after God delivers you, the enemy tries to come back and reclaim what he lost.

When the Egyptians drew near, the people of Israel feared greatly and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” That’s the slave mentality talking. It was better when I was there. It was better when I was bound. But Moses said, “Fear not. Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

And God split the Red Sea. The people went through on dry ground. When Pharaoh’s army came in after them, they were drowned in the sea. Let us not forget the salvation of the Lord. Let us not go back to slavery. Deliver us from the slave mentality. Give us a heart and mind of freedom.

God bless, Shirah Chante, your relationship coach

P.S. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Perfect Body Podcast, Beshalach episode to hear this message exactly as it was delivered and receive the complete revelation.