When the going gets tough ∙∙

When the going gets tough ∙∙

So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. – 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Luke 22:39-40, 45-46

 39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

 40 There he told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not give in to temptation.”

“We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions” (Stephen Covey). “Your direction, not intention, determines your destination” (The Principle of the Path, Andy Stanley).

Walt Disney had more than good intentions, he had a clear direction and the will to succeed. Can you imagine a childhood without enjoying the creations of Walt Disney? That could have become a reality if Walt had merely relied on his good intentions. His former newspaper editor disparaged him, claiming he had “no good ideas” and “lacked imagination.” Undeterred, Walt refused to listen to such negativity.

Instead, he persevered and created the enduring cultural icon of Disney that profoundly impacted American society in the 20th century. As Thumper’s mother and father advised in Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

What was Walt Disney’s perspective on failure? Early failure lays the groundwork for future success. He once remarked, “I think it’s important to have a good hard failure when you’re young . . .. Because it makes you kind of aware of what can happen to you. Because of it, I’ve never had any fear in my whole life when we’ve been near collapse and all of that. I’ve never been afraid” (www.lifehack.org).

Even with the best intentions and highest aspirations, we often fail those we care about the most. Sometimes temptations overtake us when we are weak, worn out, and can least resist them. The Lord Jesus Christ knowing this warned His disciples to pray that they should not enter into temptation.

During the final night of Christ’s earthly life, what temptation arose in the garden? It was not a temptation to succumb to a grave moral transgression or sin. Instead, it was the temptation to fall asleep. Given the circumstances and the Lord Jesus Christ’s prediction of impending betrayal and death, one might expect the disciples to remain vigilant and on high alert. They should have been fueled by adrenaline. However, for them, it seemed to be just another uneventful night.

They had the best of intentions but needed follow-through. Things happened so quickly that they failed to react. They failed. They fell into temptation and succumbed to sleep. This temptation is “not from indifference, but rather from sorrowful exhaustion” (MacDonald).

What did the Lord Jesus Christ do? He gave them another chance. He woke them and repeated His warning not to enter into temptation. And what did the disciples do? They repeated the same mistake and surrendered to sleep. In doing so, they were prevented from “being there” for the Lord Jesus Christ on this most dreadful of nights. By succumbing to physical exhaustion, they could not be fully present for their Lord. Essentially, they fell asleep while on guard duty, even as their enemies approached.

As bad as it was, it got even worse. All of the disciples abandoned the Lord Jesus Christ and fled as He predicted they would (Matthew 26:56).

Such personal failures do not take the Father by surprise nor alter His plans. Although we are responsible for our decisions, our decisions are part of a larger plan, determined and written in advance.

REFLECT & PRAY

Wrestling with fear and doubt is not a sin; it is normal.

Father encourage me not to give up and keep watching and praying. I know my spirit is willing, but my physical body is weak.

INSIGHT

Temptation and failure are universal experiences for all children of the King. When confronted with challenging decisions, we often rely on our own plans rather than adhering to the Father’s will. The Lord Jesus Christ also wrestled with this dilemma. Blessing often comes through wrestling. However, when discussions run their course and the struggle has ceased, our actions afterward reveal our character and steadfastness. The Lord Jesus Christ is the ideal example of resisting temptation and choosing to follow the Father’s plan, even though it would ultimately result in horrific suffering, anguish, and death.

Luke 22:41-44

 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

In His anguish, fervent prayers, and final choices, the Lord Jesus Christ modeled perfect submission. He established a pattern and model that we can emulate. He modeled perfect submission. He based His decisions on a simple yet crucial principle. For the Lord Jesus, it was a simple matter of priorities. Who gets the final say? Who has the last word? Without further hesitation, the Lord Jesus decided. His words ring out for all eternity, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” We can follow Him. We can successfully resist even the greatest temptations and struggles.

Hebrews 12:1-4

 1 Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

What was it that enabled the Lord Jesus Christ to endure the cross? During His time on earth, He did not exercise His divine powers for His personal interests or needs. It was His faith that enabled Him to endure. Rather than being dragged down in the now, He focused on “the joy that was set before Him.”

By submitting to the Father’s will, the Lord Jesus Christ reconciled the world to the Father. He successfully made atonement for sin through His death and resurrection. He made eternal salvation available for all that would accept it. One day He will have the great joy of ushering all believers into the eternal glory of the Father’s kingdom (Jude 24-25).

Mission accomplished! Job well done!

Instead of exerting control, Christ brings about transformation through the infusion of His inner peace.

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© Dr. H 2023

The paradox of pain ∙∙

The paradox of pain ∙∙

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! – 2 Corinthians 4:17

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Surgery serves multiple purposes, including exploratory diagnosis, eliminating obstructions, removing, repairing, or replacing diseased tissues or organs, broken bones, or trauma. Its primary objective is to save lives, alleviate suffering and pain, and enhance the quality of life.

Following surgery, it is typical to experience pain. Properly managing pain enables the restoration of quality of life and the resumption of essential tasks and regular activities. Effective pain management is critical for healing and recovery, and implementing a postoperative treatment strategy may help minimize the risk of complications.

God the Father is the designer and creator of humanity. He completely understands the human body, spirit, and psyche. Like a medical doctor performing surgery to enhance the well-being of a patient, the Father conducts “spiritual surgery” to improve the condition of each child of the King. Such surgery is often accompanied by pain, much like physical surgery. Indeed, painful sorrow is frequently a crucial aspect of spiritual surgery.

Gaining insight into how the Father utilizes pain for our growth can lead to a paradigm shift in our perspective. Numerous situations exist in which we choose to endure temporary pain to accomplish a desired objective. Athletes, for instance, engage in physically demanding training to prepare for competition. In farming, substantial effort and exertion are necessary up front to yield a crop. The list could go on and on. The examples are endless.

Adversity is a tool that the Father employs to achieve His desired outcomes within us and for us. His objective is not to cause us harm but to strengthen us and foster our character development. Paul, for instance, perceived his personal suffering through this lens. He acquired the skill and knowledge necessary to manage the pain accompanying spiritual surgery.

“Paul’s afflictions were of course neither slight nor momentary in themselves. They were the burdensome and virtually constant accompaniment of his ministry. Yet by comparison with the weighty and eternal character of the glory being prepared for him, he saw them as but slight and momentary” (Kruse).

REFLECT & PRAY

Seeing things from the Father’s perspective changes everything. The Father prioritizes spiritual growth over ease and comfort. Trials and tribulations cultivate endurance and a proven character.

Father, help me to learn to see things as they really are. Help me to see them as You do and be thankful.

INSIGHT

But there is more. While Paul’s struggles are both internal and external, he is focused. However, there is a deeper dimension to Paul’s challenges, which extend beyond the external realm. He directs his attention towards an unseen, internal transformation, where his inner nature is being renewed and strengthened. He has set his heart on the things that are not seen, rather than those that are seen. Everything about a human being runs down or wears out with age, with the singular exception of the human spirit. As we grow through suffering, we become strong in our spirits.

Luke 1:80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit.

How ironic, the physical things that we see now appear permanent and tangible are transient, ephemeral, and do not last. Spiritual things, such as the human soul, endure eternally, even though we cannot perceive them. What we see now is only temporary, fleeting, and ephemeral. The present momentary visible things of life paled for the apostle as he considered the future eternal, invisible things ahead (Constable).

Colossians 3:1-2

 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

The visible realm frequently causes us to feel disheartened and dispirited. We are tempted to lose hope. However, if we prioritize the unseen realities, we can avoid becoming discouraged.

Romans 8:18-26

 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.

 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Suffering is seldom viewed as beneficial or profitable. People do not typically perceive a reason to rejoice in it. However, the Father views adversity as an opportunity for spiritual growth. During times of pain, the facade we typically exhibit is stripped away, exposing our true nature. As our sense of security and comfort are challenged, our authentic priorities, pride, and self-reliance are revealed. God may leverage this opportunity to strip away all our dependencies until nothing competes with the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives (Stanley).

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul conveyed his intimate familiarity with various afflictions such as beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, and hunger (2 Corinthians 6:4-5; 11:23-28). Nevertheless, he regarded these tribulations as trivial in comparison to the imminent revelation of glory. As a citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20), he recognized that his earthly existence was fleeting compared to eternity. Moreover, the splendor of the coming age will qualitatively surpass the hardships of the present (Mounce).

If we allow the challenges of life to consume our focus, they will obstruct our vision of the glorious future that awaits us. Our attention must be directed towards the eternal and spiritual concerns that hold lasting significance (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:18) and the things above Colossians 3:2) (Mounce).

Luther expresses regret over time squandered, contemplating the present state of creation instead of its future state. He cites Seneca’s remark that “we fail to know what is necessary because we study unnecessary things.”

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© Dr. H 2023

Furever families

Furever families

David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: I love you, LORD; you are my strength. – Psalms 18:1

Psalms 18:2-6

 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

 3 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.

 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

 6 But in my distress, I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

Abandoned, neglected, or mistreated dogs often become strays. They wind up lost and bewildered. Tragically, many of them suffer and perish. However, there is hope for these animals through organizations like Rescue Me, RescueShelter.com, and the Animal Rescue Network.

In 2003, Jeff Gold, a resident of Watkinsville, Georgia, established Boxertown to assist in finding homes for boxer dogs in need. Following the success of Boxertown, Gold created Rescue Me, a network that aids in placing all types of dogs, cats, and other animals into loving homes.

One of the free services provided by Rescue Me is RescueShelter.com, a free resource that offers the most comprehensive directory of animal rescue organizations worldwide. The guide includes information on wildlife rehabilitators in more than 150 countries.

These organizations serve as a beacon of hope, a lifeline, for strays or abandoned dogs and pets whose owners can no longer provide for them. These animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and their pictures and stories are shared online. People from near and far respond and become foster families providing critical assistance to these needy canines.

Through these organizations and the kindness and compassion of ordinary people, many abandoned, neglected, or mistreated dogs are adopted into new furever families. There they are welcomed and loved. Their lives are transformed from a destiny of dismal darkness to a brighter future in a loving home.

David found himself in a very dire and difficult place. He was like an abandoned stray surrounded by enemies who were out to get him. He was being chased and hunted by those seeking his death. He was frightened and cried out for help.

“Death had had him in its grip as rope binds a prisoner. The forces of ungodliness terrified David as when one finds himself in a wadi (dry stream bed) during a spring thunderstorm and discovers a wall of water coming at him. He pictured himself trying to pick his steps through a field full of traps that hunters had set to snare animals.”

“David cried out in terror, and in His heavenly temple, God heard his call for help. He came rushing to [David’s] defense. His deliverance was like a thunderstorm in that it was the supernatural invading nature. The figures of speech in verses Psalms 8 team:7-15 picture a violent storm with lightning, thunder, high winds, torrential rains, black skies, and flooding” (Constable).

In response to David’s pleas, the Father spectacularly intervened in the time-space continuum and rescued David.

REFLECT & PRAY

In this life, confrontation is inevitable. When things go bad, finger-pointing, blaming, and confrontation often begin. Even in those dark days, we can count on the Father for His support. He has bound Himself to us forever (Stanley).

Fatherthank You for hearing and responding to my prayers and intervening on my behalf. Thank You for adopting me into Your Forever Family.

INSIGHT

But there’s more. Psalms 18 is a messianic Psalm and contains prophecy concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, David prophesied about the Coming One, the Messiah. Throughout the Psalms and other parts of the Old Testament, the Father has cleverly weaved together future prophecies about His Son with the real-life experiences and histories of those who participated or wrote about them in the Old Testament.

Psalms 18:20-31

 20 The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

 22 I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.

 23 I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

 24 The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.

 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity, you show integrity.

 26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked, you show yourself hostile.

 27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

 28 You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.

 29 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God, I can scale any wall.

 30 God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

 31 For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Psalms 18:20-30 reveals “the rationale or mystique of the Resurrection” (BBC). The Lord Jesus Christ was totally innocent and lived a sinless life. All that He said and did reveals the integrity and righteousness of His character, words, and actions. His righteous life qualified Him to be the Savior of the world.

Isaiah 53:10 But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

The Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless and spotless life. He demonstrated an undeviating devotion to the will of the Father and His commitment to His crucifixion and death on the cross. This was necessary for him to die for the sins of the world and become eligible to be resurrected.

Romans 6:4 Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father. The Father’s glory refers to His magnificent splendor and power. It connotes His grandeur, majesty, and unlimited authority. Glory is a power word; it describes the power of God gloriously exercised. The phrase “through the glory of God” indicates the Father using power to raise Jesus (Toews).

Paul’s statement regarding the glory of the Father summarizes the dramatic work of the Father using His unlimited power and authority to raise Jesus (Toews).

The relationship between resurrection power and glory is referenced in the story of Lazarus.

John 11:40 Jesus responded, Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?

Resurrection from the dead reveals the unlimited power and glory of the invisible God.

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© Dr. H 2023

Galaxy brain ∙

Galaxy brain ∙

I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. In wrath, remember mercy. – Habakkuk 3:2

Psalms 33:4-9

 4 For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

 6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.

 7 He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

 8 Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.

 9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

Since the 1990s, the Hubble Space Telescope has been capturing and transmitting back to Earth amazing, resplendent images of distant galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae (NASA.gov). The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in 2021. JWST is designed to be the successor to the Hubble but has improved capabilities for observing the universe. It has a large, segmented primary mirror over six times larger than Hubble’s.

These magnificent telescopes allow us to get outside of ourselves, glimpse places far away in time and space. JWST is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos and add to our knowledge some of the most fundamental questions in the universe. Incredibly, it permits us to investigate the atmospheres of exoplanets in search of signs of life.

“Imagine yourself at a scenic vista somewhere on Earth, such as the rim of the Grand Canyon or the shore of an ocean stretching out past the horizon line. As your brain processes the view and its sheer vastness, feelings of awe kick in” (Marina Koren, TheAtlantic.com, December 1, 2020). The awe elicited by the greatness of the creation has come to be called “Space Telescope.”

The experience of awe can lead to “a diminished sense of self,” a phrase psychologists use to describe feelings of smallness or insignificance in the face of something larger than oneself. A diminished sense of self is when an individual experiences a lower or weakened sense of their identity or value. People with a diminished sense of self may encounter challenges related to their self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of direction or meaning in their lives.

Research has demonstrated that the sensation can be a good thing: “A shot of awe can boost feelings of connectedness with other people” (Koren).

People were created with the ability to feel awe when viewing and reflecting upon the Father’s magnificent work of creation.

But the Father is seeking something far closer to His heart. He wants people to be awestruck with Him. How can we see and reflect upon the unseen God?

He has provided two ways: His Word and His Son. Through the written Word of God, we come to know about the Father. We discover His characteristics, qualities, and divine attributes. But more importantly, we learn about who He is as a person.

As we “see” Him in His Word, it is transformational. We are awed and experience something far more sensational than Galaxy Brain. We experience what we might call “God Brain.” We are at once diminished and seem puny and insignificant, yet at the same time, our thirst for connection with Him magnifies.

REFLECT & PRAY

“The Father is God, and the Son is God, but the Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father. He is speaking about unity, not identity” (Wiersbe).

Father You are utterly awesome. Lead me towards a more profound understanding of your essence. Intensify my craving and longing for you. Satisfy my growing desire to establish a stronger connection with you.

INSIGHT

How can we see and reflect upon the unseen God? The answer is fascinating and yet sublimely simple. As we observe the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels and hear Him speak and teach, He shows what the Father is like because He and the Father are one.

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.

How can this be? Theologians have been trying to answer that question for centuries. Perhaps we may never understand it on this side of eternity. But we can simply read the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflect, understand, receive, and believe.

The Lord Jesus Christ unequivocally stated that the Son and the Father are one, that is, one essence, true deity. Two different personalities, the Father and the Son, are both equally God. When the Lord Jesus Christ became truly human, He lived His life on earth as God in the flesh.

If you want to know what the Father is like, look at the Son. It is that simple.

John 14:7- 9

 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

Because no one has ever seen the Father face-to-face, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal what He is like.

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. But the unique One, who is himself God, who is at the Father’s side, He has explained Him.

When the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became flesh and dwelt among us, He revealed the Father to us. What does that mean?

The Greek term translated as revealed or explained is exegesato. It comes from the Greek verb exegeomai, which means to lead out, explain, interpret, describe, or make known.

Because no one can fully see and comprehend the Father in His Glory and live, the Lord Jesus Christ came to exegete and fully reveal the Father. “If you want to see what God is like, look at Jesus” (Barclay).

Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his essence.

He’s Everything to Me

In the stars His handiwork I see

On the wind He speaks with majesty

Tho’ He ruleth over land and sea

What is that to me

‘Til by faith I met Him face to face

And I felt the wonder of His grace

Then I knew that He was more

Than just a God who didn’t care

That lived away out there

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© Dr. H 2023

Wilderness Therapy ∙

Wilderness Therapy ∙

This was the regular pattern – at night, the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD’s command wherever he told them to go. – Numbers 9:16-18

Deuteronomy 8:2-18

 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell.

 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.

 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock!

 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.

 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, “I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.”

 18 Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful.

Trails Momentum of Henderson, N.C., is a therapeutic outdoor-adventure program for young adults based upon Wilderness Therapy.

Wilderness Therapy has the potential to be a transformative experience for young adults. Taking participants out of their comfort zones and challenging their boundaries encourages pursuing new goals and passions while testing and affirming their faith. Through Wilderness Therapy, young adults can experience personal growth and expand their horizons.

This journey of self-discovery provides young people with a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their capabilities, and their limitations.

Those who successfully navigate the challenges of Wilderness Therapy often gain a newfound sense of self-awareness and discover inner strengths they never knew existed. They develop self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment by facing and overcoming challenges that they previously thought were insurmountable.

Wilderness Therapy is nothing new. The Father used it to guide and transform the generation of Israelites. Wilderness Therapy successfully transitioned the people from slavery to becoming resilient inhabitants of the Promised Land. A unique aspect of the Father’s Wilderness Therapy program is that He is always present, providing constant support to those who embark on this journey. They were never alone in the wilderness.

The Father’s presence among His people was not that of a mere observer but of a leader. The Lord led them using the cloud. He directed the Israelites to move or settle down and determined the duration of their stay in each location, whether for one night or two days, a month, or a year (Numbers 9:22). The Father guided them and directed them on every leg of their journey (Duguid and Hughes).

REFLECT & PRAY

How blessed we would be if we would go when the Father told us to go and stay when the Father told us to stay! Obedience brings blessings (Stanley).

Father many children of the King are reticent to travel or move about. You use Wilderness Therapy to transform lives. Encourage me to be willing to follow You wherever Your love leads.

INSIGHT

The Father’s sovereign and purposeful guidance and leadership of His people is seen in how He led them in the wilderness. The Israelites stayed in one place for as long as God intended, and each experience along the journey was purposeful and not coincidental (Wenham). The people had to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. They had to follow God’s visible guidance each day until the cloud came to a halt – this required unwavering obedience to His will  (ESV – Notes).

“There was no place for fussing and crying out, ‘Are we there yet?’ What they had to do was watch the cloud and follow carefully wherever it went. . . This journey is at the will of the Lord himself and under his direction every step of the way” (Duguid and Hughes).

It required forty years and the death of an entire generation for the Israelites to learn to trust God more than their eyes or emotions.

What does it take for us to learn to trust God in the same way?

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© Dr. H 2023