Galatians 4:9
“But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?”
This letter to the Galatians is one of correction. We first saw that in 3:1, "You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?" He then makes points to strengthen his case. Today's verse comes back to his concern. His charge is a little different. He wants them to see it from a different angle.
He saying, "You had a solid relationship with God. You knew Him and He knew you. You were walking in freedom. Now, you're dabbling in the sin you were once enslaved in. The Lord will have to rescue you once more. Why?" (This was my paraphrase). Peter says it this way, 'It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire”', (2 Peter 2:22).
I don't want to be judgmental, as it's the grace of God that keeps us. He does this for us in different ways. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 12:7, "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself!" Some think he had bad eye sight. Whatever it was, he understood that it was for the purpose of him staying humble and dependent on God.
The Lord does the same with us. We've all got something that if we were free of, we might not be as close to the Lord. Peter comments on the subject in his second epistle, "if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment", (2:9). Lord, we are so grateful that You keep us close to You. Thank You for Your great wisdom.
Even though both of these apostles comment on God's keeping power, they are strong in their rebukes for those who fall away. Paul challenges them "Why are you doing this? You've had so much. You're throwing it away, only to be enslaved again?"
One reason people fall away is addressed in Hebrews 11:25, "choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin". The writer acknowledges that Moses knew that there is pleasure in sin for a little while. The movie, The Ten Commandments displays the wealth of Egypt. Moses had power, influence and riches. Many people live their entire lives pursuing those things. That was Moses' reality. It was empty.
We all brush up against ungodly things that have an allure. Some wisely stay with God out of love and allegiance to Him, others are dependent on God and know that embracing those things would be cutting off the life line to God. It's part of the maturing process for us to wrestle with these things. Hopefully as we continue in our walk with the Lord, we stay with Him out of love.
David shared his thoughts on this subject in Psalm 84:10, "For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked." David says it a little differently in Psalm 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Do you want to be the happiest you can be? David says that's to be found in God. Yes, there is the denying of self, but that's rewarded with freedom and contentment.
Lord, thank You for the great blessings You give us. Help us to stay close to You. Those things that might cause us to stray, don't let them have power over us.