Thursday, December 8

THE FORTY-YEAR HIKE

Exodus 17:1-7

After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they stepped into the wilderness and up to the Promised Land, but, because of unbelief, they weren’t allowed to enter into the Promised Land. But why wouldn’t God have allowed them to enter into the place that He promised to them? The Israelites had personally just witnessed some of the greatest miracles ever, and yet they didn’t believe God for who He was.

After the Isrealites crossed the Red Sea, they entered the wilderness of Shur, and then moved on to Elim. Then, two months and fifteen days after coming out of Egypt, they went into the wilderness of Sin. In Exodus 17:1-7, the congregation steps out of the wilderness of Sin, and into a place called Rephedim, but there was no water for the people to drink. God did this to show the congregation that He was in complete control, and all they had to do was trust Him. But instead, the whole congregation comes to Moses, and they are mad because they have no water. It says they are at the point of stoning Moses because they are so thirsty. So Moses goes before God, and God tells him to take his staff, go up before the people, and strike the rock in Horeb. When Moses did that, water flowed out and all the people had plenty to drink.

You see, God wanted people that were going to be fully dependant and devoted to Him. That’s why He led them into the wilderness, where they would be away from the influences of worldly Egypt, and would have time to prepare themselves, in prayer, for the battles that would happen in Canaan. However, the Isrealites, threw it all away and spent the entire time complaining, and feeling sorry for themselves. Psalm 95:8,9 says, "Harden not your heart, as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work." Chapter 17 is just one example of many, when the Isrealites rejected God, and, because of that, when they do finally make it to Canaan, God rejects them, and banishes them to forty more years of ‘wandering’ in the wilderness. God decides to allow the entire generation that came out of Egypt, to die off and a new younger generation to grow up—one that would be fully devoted to Him.

God has a place prepared for us in heaven also, and He is going to take us through this wilderness of separation from the world, in order to show us His mighty hand, and where we can be totally away from all it’s distractions. Instead of complaining about our present situations, however, let’s come before God on our knees and be in prayer like Moses. Then God will reveal Himself, just like He did to Moses, and will provide us with everything we need, including bread and water. If we will do this, then He will also bring us into the Promised Land, and give it to us as an inheritance.

~ Jason Frantz