THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
When the Israelites heard these words, the entire crowd, forgetting the Lord and disregarding the miraculous signs performed in Egypt, became overwhelmed with fear. They hesitated to engage in battle, declined to oppose their adversaries, and lost their affection for the promised land. Instead of recalling the mighty and invincible power of their Deliverer, they wept in a childish manner and trembled in dread, fearing for their families and cherished belongings, convinced they would be slain by the enemy’s swords. They even uttered that slavery in Egypt seemed preferable and that the burden of that servitude was easier to bear. With tears spilling down their faces, they lamented their desire to return to their captors.
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However, those who aspire to receive such significant and glorious rewards, such as paradise, do not wrestle merely “against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this present darkness,” as stated in Ephesians 6:12. Those who focus solely on earthly matters, favoring the transient and decaying over the everlasting joy, are hesitant to enter this spiritual struggle. Observe how the Israelites, consumed by concerns for their families, contradicted the words of the chosen ones, surrendering to crippling fear and cowardice. Consider, too, those who, upon the arrival of our Savior Christ, lost their faith due to the outcry of the Jews. Yet, some chose to remain steadfast, valuing their love for God above physical comforts. For when the called ones to the wedding feast began to make excuses, it is noted, “All alike began to make excuses.” One declared, “I have bought a field,” and another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come” (Luke 14:18, 20). Do you grasp the connection between their passions? Do you see the similarity in their afflictions?