19 February | EVERYONE
“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the Lord spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days.” Deuteronomy 2: 1
In the desert there were no roads, only untrodden sand. On those dry paths where the thirsty soul ruminated on its rebelliousness, the people often stopped to weep for their dead. The women were pale and inert with their braids of faded light. The men were skeletal and aged with their name forever forgotten. Corpses of loved ones were left behind as the wandering caravan continued its journey, following the protective cloud by day and the burning torch by night. The days, months, and years glided slowly, agonizing into each sunset. It was the price of rebelliousness.
It had taken Israel less than two years to get from Egypt to the Promised Land, but they did not take possession of it immediately because of their unbelief. They wandered for forty years, burning out like a candle every dusk. Near the end of the pilgrimage, Moses reminded them that God made them walk through a “great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water" (Deuteronomy 8:15).
What was the reason for the delay? The rebellion and disbelief of the people. And what is the purpose of allowing it? Moses explained, "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
Israel needed to reflect and learn. The wilderness would teach them to depend on and trust God; to live by faith and to follow His leadings. Only then would they be prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Today, we walk towards our eternal home, a beautiful and wonderful land that has not risen to human thought. Today is also a time to reflect and learn. Time to allow God to control our lives and direct our choices. It is time to get ready to enter our glorious home.
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God will also allow deserts in your life to make you rethink. Ask Him to help you recognize them, to guide you during that time, and they will become trials that were overcome.