The land between is a journey from the circumstance of life to the place God wants to take us. Often, it’s a place of hurt, lonliness,or disillusionment.
You know, a place like this…
But its also a place where God can reveal himself and where we can experience spiritual transformation.
The journey is best portrayed in the desert wanderings of the Isrealites….
Leaving Egypt, they were acclimated to the worldliness of Egypt rather than being acclimated to walking with God.
One was the need for food. Ever gone hungry? Ever seen what it will do to you… A diet…deprivation of food. Very hard to stick with it.. God provided Manna for the israelites
Nu 11:7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. Nu 11:8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. Nu 11:9 And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it. Ex 16:21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.
I have coached many years…in a tough game, heroes are revealed or losers are exposed. Some athletes in a crisis rise up and show heart, passion, drive and desire. Others fold and end up losing. Those who fold tend to fold again, and again, and again unless something in their heart desire a change.
Nu 11:4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat? Nu 11:5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; Nu 11:6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"
Nu 11:20 but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, "Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?" ' "
Israelites repeat offenders…murmur Ex 15 complained about lack of water Ex 16 complained about lack of food Ex 17 again with the lack of water They developed a habit of murmuring.
They should have trusted but failed to apply what they knew. They had god’s promises They had seen God’s power in the parting of the red sea God teaches us to trust through our circumstances. Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. In a test, will our faith remain in a good, wise, loving God or will our faith evaporate. Yet, as our patience grows, our trust will displace complaint.
How to guard your heart…its by your convictions and commitments. What do you believe? What are you committed to? Jessica’s affirmation You Tube clip Tell yourself daily what you believe. (D A Statements)
How to grow in your trust? Learn about his character. Commit to reading God’s word daily. Proverbs 3:5-6 Pr 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Pr 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. All heart – no room for doubt Not on own understanding – circumstances do not reveal who God is or what he is doing… Acknowledge Him – give it to Him Direct your paths – give you direction
