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Last April, President Biden announced his intention to withdraw the American military presence from Afghanistan. He made the announcement from the same room where one of his predecessors had announced that we were going to invade Afghanistan to “make the world safe for democracy,” and to seek justice for the attacks on the World Trade Center believed to be spearheaded by terrorists groups that were being aided and abetted by groups with connections in that remote country. President Biden said he believed that American military objectives had been achieved, and that it was never American policy to fight “a forever war,” a war that has occupied the attention of four presidents, stretched out over 20 years, consumed billions of dollars, and has cost countless American lives.

His decision to withdraw from Afghanistan has proved to be much more difficult that he imagined. Over the course of the past several weeks, we have seen horrific images of the various challenges that have confronted the evacuation effort, and yesterday they reached a gruesome climax. Two suicide bombers detonated themselves near the airport in Kabul, which resulted in more American casualties on Afghan soil than any other time since the beginning of the war.

Our prayers go out to the families of all those who lives have been lost defending our country.

As I have watched these events unfold, I have been reminded of two significant truths:

1. The Difficulty of Leadership. I once heard a historian quip that no easy problems make it to the president’s desk. Please join me in praying for our president, and all leaders—from CEOs of multi-million dollar corporations to single parents, who are continually confronted with decisions that can significantly impact and alter the direction of others peoples’ lives.

2. The Difficulty of Leaving. Clearly, there are forces that do not want America to leave Afghanistan. And I imagine that the reasons are as varied as the parties involved. But the idea that you can just leave a situation after years of involvement with no cost or chaos is naive at best and dangerous at worst.

My comments today are motivated by the second of these truths, and are directed to anyone who is thinking about leaving “their Afghanistan.”

Beware! It is going to be much harder than you think.

The American effort to leave Afghanistan reminded me of the Jewish effort to leave Egypt. After 400 years of captivity, God sent a prophet named Moses to lead his chosen people to the Promised Land. On the night they left, the scriptures inform us that the King of Egypt chased them all night. He did not want to let them go! Exodus 14:5-9 escorts us to the scene:

When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops

This picture of the most powerful army in the ancient world chasing a bunch of slaves through the wilderness in the middle of the night is a powerful scene. It is a graphic reminder, as are the brutal scenes in Afghanistan, that our past never wants to let us go—and will fight with all of the weapons in its vast arsenal to keep us from doing so.

There are forces that do not want you to leave your “Egypt.” Whether it’s a toxic relationship, a bad habit, or an unhealthy addiction, they will conspire to keep you in their grasp. The great theologian Augustine shared that when he was trying to move beyond his sins, they whispered a question in his ears: “Are you sure you can live without us?”

Do not allow questions, threats, or even violence from your past deter or detain you.

Although you may have to change your timetable, stick with the plan.

It may be hard to leave, but divine assistance will be provided. God will help you, just as he helped Israel. You can count on God’s guidance and God’s protection!