FEBRUARY 26

After the deaths of the first-born sons in Egypt, Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave. Over two million people departed, taking with them great wealth from the land where they had served as slaves.

God told Moses that the enemy would pursue and try to capture them and take them back to slavery. God warned: “…Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in” (Exodus 14:3).

Like Israel, many believers have escaped the bondage of Egypt, the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ has marked their lives with redemption, and they are on their way to their destiny–but they do not realize that the taskmaster is hard on their heels. Once you have accepted Jesus as Savior and have determined to pursue the divine purpose for which you were created, the enemy wants to drive you back into bondage. Like Pharaoh, your enemy declares, “I will pursue them. I will overtake them.” The enemy wants to entangle you in the wilderness of this world–the sins, cares, and circumstances of life.

Satan does not want to release you from the tyranny of bondage. He does not want you to embrace abundant life, rather he wants to take you captive back to the old life. The enemy does not want you to impact the lives of people and nations with the power of the Gospel. Satan wants to abort your dream and your destiny.

The entanglements of life are often the means by which Satan accomplishes his diabolical plans. You may be drawn back into former relationships that will entangle you in your old life style.

You may become ensnared by the cares of the world–the demands of business, family, and everyday life. You may be shut in by loneliness, depression, or oppression by the enemy. You may be bogged down in the quicksand of worry, anxiety, or fear.

Jesus warned, “…take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with…cares of this life” (Luke 21:34 NKJ). Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul warned: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

Are you entangled in the cares of the world? Do you seem to be shut in by the wilderness? Israel was never without guidance, for God sent His angel to guide them and provided a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. You will not be ensnared by the circumstances of life today because the Holy Spirit goes before you to provide supernatural guidance. Satan may pursue, but you have power over all the power of the enemy!