The Exodus
September 22, 2023 - I Love the book of Exodus. I see so much of what is happening in our nation today through the filter of this great and revealing book of the Old Testament. We are reliving history and if we look closely, we can learn some great and mighty truths of how to navigate this important time in history. Things we can and should be doing and things we should stay away from and that prolong our "wanderings" in the desert.
Have you ever wondered why when God sets you free from something like a particular habit, addiction, emotional pain etc it is not always done in a quick manner? I know I sure have. As I was reading in Exodus 13 this morning, God had me zero in on verse 17 which says, "When Pharoah finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs thru the Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, if the people are faced with a battle, they may change their minds and return to Egypt."
There was my answer. God knows each of us intimately. He knows what makes us tick and how we are going to react under pressure. He knows what will cause us "to return to Egypt".( our old sinful lifestyle). He knows that our flesh (mind, will and emotions) need to be trained for the battles that lie ahead. Let's face it it. None of us, given the opportunity would choose on our own, to take the long way around "our mountain". Nope, we want to go straight into the Promised Land.
I was thinking about Dennis this morning as I was reading this. Dennis wants to get to the Promised Land, but what Dennis has yet to understand is that he is not quite ready to take on the Philistines. God knows that and He has our friend right where he needs to be at present. God is in the process of breaking that old stubborn will of his and at God's appointed time, will he then be able to advance. To shorten the journey, Dennis needs to stop resisting, complaining and grumbling about his life in general. He needs to fully submit to God and follow Him through this wilderness journey and learn some vital truths that God has for him so he will not forget what God has done and is doing in his life.
What about me/you? Are we still "wandering" in the desert and wondering why it is taking so long to get to the Promised Land? Could it be that we are resisting the needed changes in our lives that could finally set us free from that which enslaves us? Are we grumbling and complaining, instead of fully submitting to God's hand of teaching and correction? Think about it. I know I will be today 🙂
