Hey there,
Welcome to another week of clarity with CoachMO.
Let me ask you something that might sit quietly in your chest.
Have you ever stayed somewhere longer than you should have simply because it once worked?
A city? A job? A business model? Even a country?
There’s a deep human instinct that shapes our decisions: when something produces results, we hold on to it. We repeat it. We defend it. We build our identity around it. Success becomes proof. And proof becomes permission to stay.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: what once worked can quietly expire.
In economics, we see this in migration patterns. In markets, we see it in investment cycles. In nations, we see it in global power shifts. And in our personal lives, we see it in careers and opportunities that once opened doors but now feel like closed rooms.
Today, I want to explore a sensitive but necessary question:
Are we staying because it is still right or because it once worked?
This is not just about geography. It’s about timing. It’s about discernment. It’s about recognizing when seasons shift economically, strategically, and spiritually.
Because past success is a blessing. But it can also become a trap.
Pour the tea.
Let’s talk about economic migration, divine guidance, and the courage it takes to know when to stay and when to go.
The Pattern of Our Patriarchs
The Bible provides us with a masterclass in strategic decision-making through the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Famine was a recurring crisis in their time, and economic migration, what many Nigerians today call “Jápa”, was often the logical response.
Abraham’s Migration
Abraham, one of the wealthiest men recorded in Scripture, migrated during a famine. In the process, he even repackaged his identity, presenting himself as single rather than married to fit into the economic structure of his destination. We all know how that decision ended, and the complications it created.
Isaac’s Divine Redirection
Decades later, when famine struck again, Isaac faced the same choice. His father’s proven strategy was migration. He had every logical reason to follow suit, perhaps even a visa, ticket, and job offer equivalent to his day. But Isaac did something crucial: he consulted God first. And God said: STAY.
Imagine having everything ready, your visa approved, your ticket purchased, your job offer in hand and then God tells you, “Don’t go. Don’t Jápa.” Isaac obeyed. He sowed in that famine-stricken land, and his investments returned a hundredfold. His story reminds us that past proven strategies aren’t always God’s current strategy.
Jacob’s Migration: The Slow Slide into Captivity
Fast forward another generation. Jacob’s grandson witnessed yet another economic downturn. This time, the family made the pragmatic choice: they migrated to Egypt. It seemed divinely orchestrated. Joseph was already there, positioned at the highest levels of government. But here’s where I want us to pause and reflect.
Jacob gave his children a telling instruction: “If I die in this land, don’t bury me here.” He understood something profound: this was meant to be temporary.
Yet after Jacob’s death, his children buried him back home and then returned to Egypt. Why? The economic conditions were favorable. Joseph’s influence created a protective environment. They were comfortable. They had legal standing, economic prosperity, and social integration. Decades passed. The famine that drove them there had long ended. But they stayed. They got too comfortable. They assumed their achievements meant acceptance. They forgot they were on assignment, not at home.
Then came a new government, one that had no memory of Joseph, no regard for previous agreements. Suddenly, policies changed. Their status as foreigners was reinstated. What began as economic migration became 430 years of slavery.
The Israelites were never taken into captivity. They walked into slavery by choice.
The Question for Today: Where is your Egypt?
I’m not just talking about physical geography. Egypt here is a metaphor for any situation where you’ve stayed too long beyond your expiry date, where comfort has replaced calling, where achievement has been mistaken for acceptance.
Consider these questions:
- How many of us have willingly walked into slavery by overstaying in positions, relationships, or circumstances that no longer serve God’s purpose for our lives?
- Have we mistaken the time we’ve spent somewhere as proof of approval and acceptance?
- When was the last time we checked in with God and asked: “Am I still supposed to be here?”
I often wonder: What would have happened if the Israelites had left Egypt upon Joseph’s death, or shortly before? Would God have told them to stay if they had constantly checked in with Him about their next move?
A Warning for Our Times
We’re approaching a season where it’s looking like “there came a king that knew not Joseph.” Global dynamics are shifting. Immigration policies are tightening. What seemed secure yesterday feels uncertain today. Don’t mistake your comfort and achievements as confirmation of God’s seal of approval. The fact that you’ve prospered in a place doesn’t automatically mean you should stay there forever.
You are on assignment. Check in with the One who sent you, periodically (Daily).
CoachMO’s Takeaway
Whether it’s staying (like Isaac) or going (like Abraham), the key is not the decision itself, it’s the divine consultation before the decision.
Past success doesn’t guarantee present guidance. Each season requires fresh instruction. Each generation needs current revelation. Each transition demands direct conversation with God. Don’t default to what worked before. Don’t assume the path of least resistance is the path of divine will. Don’t let comfort cloud your discernment.
Ask Him!
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If you have questions, let’s discuss them. Until next time.
Until next time,
CoachMO
Your Financial Literacy Plug
