God led the Israelites for 40 years

March 9

Read Nehemiah 9:9-12 and reflect on the passage.

The word “desert” implies barrenness, hostility, thirst, heat, danger, death. The name “God” suggests love, fullness, comfort, joy, growth, life. Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the desert? Why would God lead His people into a desert?

When God delivered His people from Egypt, He provided a way at the Red Sea, and drowned the Egyptian army; He made a name for Himself. He guided His people through the desert by a cloud and fire for 40 years, bringing glory to His name. If the way had been easy, who among the surrounding nations would have known or respected God? Who in Israel would have realized their continued dependence on the Lord and remained faithful?

Immediately prior to the desert experience, God revealed His presence and power in miraculous ways. They knew God was real, He loved them, and He would guide, grow, and sustain them.

The desert makes more sense when we realize that God’s concerned about growing His church and expanding His kingdom. We can only survive in the desert if we depend on the Lord. When others see us thriving there, they’ll know something is up. God is making a name for Himself through us and our stories.

Questions

1. When you walked through a barren, hostile, thirsty, dangerous place in your life, how did God comfort, grow, guide, and sustain you?

2. Who noticed? How did you give God glory?

Prayer

Lord, we know that you are God. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. We depend on You. Use us for Your glory.

—Jane Bruns

Through the Desert or Across the Room

            Mark 6:6-13, 30-34

In Mark chapter 6, Jesus spoke to the twelve apostles. They were sent out in twos to spread the Word. They were given authority over evil spirits. These were Jesus’ instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.  Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

That is not a challenge for the weak of heart, or for one who trusts in himself alone. Only those who truly believe God is in control could take on that challenge. No food, money, extra clothes or anything. It is likely the twelve had reservations about the mission, but none questioned him. Jesus’ instructions were clear. They went. Yes, it may have helped that they were told they had authority to deal with evil spirits, but there was no guarantee.

Though today the Lord does not gather a specific group of us together and lay out exactly what to bring and not bring, or instruct each of us exactly where to go, his commands are clear. In addition, we have also been given the power of the Holy Spirit.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 1:13

The Bible is overflowing with guidance and instruction on how to live. If we abide by these three alone, will the Lord commend us as his "Good and Faithful Servant?" 

                                                                                                                                       

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Mark 12:31

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me. 

Matthew 25:40

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Colossians 3:12-13

 Book by: Bill Hybels

No need to walk through the desert. Look around the neighborhood. It is not essential to travel abroad, be patient with your children. Don’t seek out strangers until you have forgiven your relatives. Compassionate hearts, humility, kindness, etc. are qualities practiced and honed throughout the journey of life. As our character evolves we influence all those whose lives we touch in some way.

Read/Listen to Mark 6:6-13 

                         Mark 6:30-34

Strength in Weakness

Samuel 23:15-29

David was an unlikely candidate for kingship in the eyes of many. He was young, naive, sincere, and inexperienced. All the things a strong and controlling man like Saul despises, yet just what the Lord desires.

David fled to avoid conflict and follow God’s will. Saul hunted him like prey. Does that sound familiar? 

Often as we attempt to do as our Lord commands, we feel scrutiny, attack, and disapproval from others in our life. At times we may even be attacked by our loved ones. Is this opposition truly coming from the hearts of our attackers, or is it perhaps instigated by satan and they have no defense against him? Does their lack of connection with Christ perhaps facilitate their need to lash out? These times require us to be strong in the Lord regardless of what others think or how weak we are perceived to be.

The bible says there is strength in weakness, and that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. Those who demonstrate a quiet, reserved nature are often perceived as weak, yet in reality they may possess a quiet strength and confidence that comes from deep within and they feel no need to put their solid personality on display. Their power needs no audience or attention. The Lord’s grace is enough.

So who would you rather stand with, the one with a robust personality who roars like a lion gaining personal attention and perhaps soliciting fear, or one who approaches life like a lamb, thoughtfully addressing each day as it comes and reaching out to others?

As we are sometimes “driven into the desert” let us remember that God may use challenging situations to grow and strengthen us for His purpose. We are shaped and molded like clay in God’s hands through our experiences.

Today is a great day to stand before the Lord and recommit to His purpose for us. Even when we feel weak, we are strong in Him.

Read/Listen to: 1 Samuel 23: 15-29

You Promised!

Numbers 20:2-13

Israel in the Wilderness

 You Promised! Can’t you just hear her whiney little voice complaining about how she did not get what she wanted-what was promised? That annoying complaint can come from a child, adults, or perhaps the elderly, but no matter where it originates, it can be irritating just the same.

We can only imagine the times the Lord has heard this type of appeal. It goes back to long before Jesus walked the earth; perhaps to Adam and Eve as they endured the hardships that accompanied their dismissal from The Garden of Eden.  

In Numbers 20, the people of Israel are in the desert. They feel they have been wandering in the wilderness forever and can’t handle much more. They complain to Moses and Aaron that there is no food or water and question why they were lead away from where they were to begin with. They want it to end!

We can take example here. The only way to our Promised Land is through the wilderness. There is no secret passage way that will get us there quickly and pain free. Whining and complaining will not make it better, in fact it will likely bring about increased adversity.

Our God has promised us a new life in heaven, but the road there can be long and difficult. This wilderness world in which we live challenges us daily, and often brings us to the point of grumbling, quarreling, and losing heart. We are all on this journey together. Perhaps envisioning how some others have experienced the wilderness will help us realize it’s normal and common to struggle through feeling lost and alone at times.

Some of us play the hand we have been dealt with style and dignity, and others well, not so much. Those who seem to handle their wilderness well, are probably in close contact with God. When the journey seems too much to bear, go ahead…Ask God for peace and clarity. Let Him know you are willing to go where he is leading you and that you want what He wants. If you choose to go it alone, you will likely get no more than just “a little cheese to go with that whine.” 

Read/Listen to Number 20:2-13

Prayer is Laughing - When God is Smiling

Following a deer trail in the woods will often take you to a body of water.  If you are by a lake or a stream and there is a wooded area all around, you are likely to spot a trail, a narrow area where the overgrowth has been trampled down.  This likely opens up into a clearing at the edge of a lake.  This is usually due to deer traffic, moving over the same area every night in search of water.

For the short period of time I lived in the north woods of Wisconsin, deer were a symbol to me of God's loving care.  Deer would appear out of nowhere as Asa (my golden retriever) and I would be walking along the road.  Often, a number of them would be crossing a few feet ahead of us.  We would stop and stare and sometimes they would do the same.  The sight always made me smile.  And when I would see them in my own yard, grazing, I felt blessed.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

David used a deer's thirst for fresh water as an analogy or a parallel for his feelings for God.  David recognized that God was the only thing that would quench his thirst.  He drank often from the well or stream of Living Water. Fleeing from his enemies and running across a desert caused David to thirst often and deeply. We too have similar thirst when we are in a spiritual drought, or when we are stuck in a dry region of our life. God longs to fill us, to satisfy us as He satisfies all living creatures.

Psalm 42, 43 and 44