Deuteronomy 17:16
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Returning to Egypt was forbidden by God. One of the battles that Moses fought with backslidden Israelites was that they constantly wanted to return to Egypt because they thought returning would make things much easier. God’s command to Israel about Egypt was, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. In other words, God wanted Israel to settle in their hearts that returning would no longer be an option.
One mistake many people make is thinking that they can go back to where they used to be and that everything would be the same. I grew up in Salinas, California, and when I returned to preach meetings in that area, one thing I have learned is that it is not the same as I remember it to be. When I decided to leave where I grew up, I have never looked back to that decision because the decision to move forward has always been my focus. Were there times when returning would have been easier when I was younger? Yes! However, had I returned, I would have missed out on the blessings of God’s will that He had for me by moving forward by faith. There are three areas where we must be careful about the temptation to return.
First, don’t return to a place that you left. Many have made a move by faith to move to an area and then wished they could go back to a place where they used to live, only to leave God’s will when they returned. Just because life is not easy where God has moved you does not mean you should return to a previous location from where God moved you out. Returning to the place from where you moved will not make anything easier. I have watched many people return to a place they thought was so much better than where they were only to lose everything they thought they would lose where they used to be. Stay put and never consider returning.
Second, don’t return to a stage of life that you already left. Many marriages have ended in divorce because they thought that going back to the single life would be easier than working through the difficulties of a marriage. Going back to the single life is not where your answers are found. Fixing your problems in your marriage is where you find fulfillment in life. You can return to a previous stage, but you will find yourself missing out on the joys and victories that God has for you in your present stage of life.
Third, don’t return to decisions that were previously settled. Once you have made a decision, you must never let doubt undo the decision that you have made. Many have gone back on a decision they made only to find regret. If God moved you to make a decision, you must settle in your mind that undoing that decision is never an option.
One reason you should never return is because returning is a faithless decision. Faith moves you forward and never moves you backward. To go backward shows your lack of trust in God. My friend, returning to the past is a mirage that will disappear and will pull you out of God’s will where faith has presently placed you. You must make a determination in your heart and mind that returning is never an option. Always choose to go forward and you will never live in regret of what could have been had you not returned.