In Moses’ account from Deuteronomy 1, the Lord records one of the most curious Bible factoids you could ever imagine. From the starting point at Mount Horeb (at right) to the destination the Israelites ended up 40 years later, the trip was described in Deuteronomy 1:2 as an 11-day journey! Wow! In other words, just past the shores of the Red Sea from Mount Horeb, to Canaan’s land is an 11-day journey by foot. And yet the Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert to get from point A to point B!
Do you ever feel like that spiritually? I have, from time to time! Let’s learn from Moses’ journey and see what will help us along “the narrow way.”
1. Dreams come true only after you wake up.Think about it. Israel was enslaved 400 years and Moses came to help them. They dreamed constantly about getting out of Egypt. And yet, until they – including Moses – “woke up” and realized God was trying to set them free, they didn’t support God’s plan!
Do you see that God wants to bless your dreams? Wake up! Make your dreams align with his will. He is with you and will bless your faith as you put his will first! Wake up to the fact that God longs to use you and fulfill your life. Co-operate with his Spirit! Don’t resist. Otherwise, you will just keep spinning your wheels into the sands of time until you're buried.
2. Realize the battle is raging around you. To reach their destination, the Israelites had to witness a few battles. Some were God sending plagues against Pharoah. Some were actual battles they partook in. Some, they lost because they were ungodly. With Satan as our enemy, if we do not interpret all that happens around us as war, we will misinterpret reality.
Why is there so much unclean trash and manipulative marketing on TV? Why is the internet pornography business raking in more money than pro football, baseball and basketball combined? Why is God's definition of marriage being cast aside? The direct answer is simple. Because Satan is raging an all-out war against all that is godly, pure, true and in accordance with God’s will. Do you see that and believe it? Are you fighting back with righteousness? If not, you’ll spin your wheels with the wrong perspective. Your priorities will be in the wrong place. Fight the good fight or be defeated without one!
3. Never give up on God’s lead. In spite of the fact that Israel wandered in the desert “40 years on an 11-day journey,” the truth is that God was still leading them! He was with them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night! All they went through was according to God’s plan and schedule. One scripture that has encouraged me for many years is 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
We do go through the deserts of life just by living in the world. God intends to put us through tough times and various forms of suffering to help us grow. In the darkest hours, see the pillar of fire in front of you! If you are with him, God is with you. He loves everyone and wants all to humbly accept his mercy and grace under the Lordship of Christ. God is leading you! Never give up! If you do, you will spin your wheels forever and ever. May, we, his people wake up, rise up in battle and never give up!
Jerry Maday
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