Deuteronomy 8:2-10 says, "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you [a]understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. 6 Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to [b]fear Him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; 9 a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you."
God reminded me recently about how stubborn and fickle the Israelites were. He gave them Manna in their wilderness and while it was what they needed and it was from God (adding to its quality), they told God they wanted meat. But all that time was to humble them, to test them, to see what was in their hearts, to see if they would stay true to the Lord. The purpose was to show them that food wasn't all it's cracked up to be... and it seems in the case of the Israelites that this meant the "good" food from Egypt. No, instead man lives and breathes from, by, and to the power and glory of God alone. They not only were unhappy with the food they were given... they actually wanted to go back to Egypt, as they found "safety" and comfort there, though it was a false comfort.
The advice given is to "remember." Remember what God has done for you. And as we remember... we are able to obey Him. Beyond this, the Israelites were told they were being led into the promised land. God gave them the end. I wish He'd do that in our lives sometimes, but then again... could we even handle that information? Haha. As I thought through this concept though and found this passage... oh how encouraged I am as I see that the Israelites are told the promised land will be good. It'll be so good that though they can't accept this at the moment... they will eat, be satisfied and bless God for His faithfulness to them. So many times we look at today and forget what God has done yesterday. We look at today and forget that God says He works all things for the good of those who love Him. The "good" is good because it comes from God. Lord, is there manna in my life that I can't see? That I refuse to see? Lord, will a time come when you bring your provision for me and all I'll see is what the Israelites saw? Will I grumble because I wanted something more glamorous? Will I complain because the Manna wasn't packaged in with my favorite color? Or will I be paying close attention with eyes wide open that I may "remember" what you have done in bringing me this provision? Lord, I know your ways are not my ways. Your thoughts are not my thoughts. I know Your provision will be "good" because it comes from You. God... may I be open and sensitive when You provide. May I not reject your provision. May I not be like the Israelites. But Lord, if by chance I am stubborn and blind... I ask you now... be gracious to me, for I am weak and emotional. I am double minded and unstable. I don't always know how to walk by faith and not by sight.
I've been thinking and praying a lot lately. Haven't had much time to do leisure reading. Been spending a lot of time in song. God is so good. Friends are so good. My friend who came to visit is paying to fly me to visit him in Chicago next weekend. It'll be the weekend of my birthday. I really need to regroup, rest, have fun with friends, and spend time with the Lord in the Culby 2 Prayer Chapel before they finish remodeling. Some friends and I are planning to go swing dancing. I'm trying to gather a few more people. My church is holding a birthday party for another friend who has the same birthday as I and I'm invited. Looking forward to it. Four days away from retail groceries by the grace of God. I don't know how they let me go without us having a Produce manager. Nothing new about a church to serve in. Have had other things to do lately so I haven't been searching for new churches to apply at. I'm kinda excited lately though... a pool cleaning company found me on craigslist. The job would pay what I'd need to live on my own and the owner was a pastor for 20 years. Trying to setup an interview this week and doing research on pool maintenance on my own. Lord, if you want me here longer than I'd thought... so be it. I've always wanted Your will before my own, no matter how hard or how many questions I have.
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