What did the Jews want to do when things got rough in Exodus?
When circumstances became difficult in Exodus, the Jews longed to go back to their old life in Egypt. They hankered after Egypt instead of pressing forward with God. This illustrates how believers may be tempted to return to their former life when trials come, but such temptation comes from Satan appealing to the flesh.
Les explains that in the coming chapters of Exodus, when things got a little rough, the Jew always hankered to go back to the old life in Egypt. Les applies this as a picture of the problem with so many believers: as soon as things get tough, the tempter comes and says they were probably better off back where they were before. Les warns, “Don’t you believe it,” because that is the working of Satan, who is always appealing to the flesh. He also reminds us that Exodus is a book of redemption, a picture of being bought back, so the pull back to Egypt illustrates the temptation to return to the old life after being set free.