Desert Places

Bible in a Year : Psalm 119:89-176, 1 Corinthians 8

The Lord . . . has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness.

Deuteronomy 2:7

Today's Scripture & Insight : Deuteronomy 2:1-7

When I was a young believer, I thought “mountaintop” experiences were where I would meet Jesus. But those highs rarely lasted or led to growth. Author Lina AbuJamra says it’s in the desert places where we meet God and grow. In her Bible study Through the Desert, she writes, “God’s aim is to use the desert places in our lives to make us stronger.” She continues, “God’s goodness is meant to be received in the midst of your pain, not proven by the absence of pain.”

It’s in the hard places of sorrow, loss, and pain that God helps us to grow in our faith and become closer to Him. As Lina learned, “The desert is not an oversight in God’s plan but an integral part of [our] growth process.”

God led many Old Testament patriarchs to the desert. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had wilderness experiences. It was in the desert that God prepared Moses’ heart and called him to lead His people out of slavery (Exodus 3:1-2, 9-10). And it was in the desert that God “watched over [the Israelites’] journey” for forty years with His help and guidance (Deuteronomy 2:7).

God was with Moses and the Israelites each step of their way through the desert, and He’s with you and me in ours. In the desert, we learn to rely on God. There He meets us—and there we grow.

By: Alyson Kieda

Reflect & Pray

When has God met you in a desert place? What happened as a result?

Dear God, thank You for being with me in the difficult desert experiences of my life. You’re faithful and compassionate.

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A leader with trust in God

Joshua was old, advanced in age. And Joshua called for all Israel … and said to them: … You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you.

Joshua 23:1–3

A leader with trust in God

Joshua is one of the greatest leaders of the old covenant people of Israel, a man distinguished in many ways. Next to God, Israel owed to him the capture of the land of Canaan, which God had already promised to the forefathers of His people.

Now the life of this gifted leader is drawing to a close, and he is handing over his testament, as it were, to his people. This is so significant that it has been recorded in the Holy Scriptures.

Naturally, he begins with the past, which he himself had played a major role in shaping. Would he succumb to the temptation to emphasise his merits or at least mention them? You don’t read anything of this – you can search in vain for references to his undoubtedly great heroic deeds. Joshua knew and held to the fact that to the great God alone was any honour due for Israel’s coming into possession of the promised land. God had waged the battle for His people, and men were but instruments in His hand. This looks at things from a higher perspective, but for Joshua it was the only correct viewpoint.

Truly great people will not strive to make themselves and their achievements the centre of attention. Those who have succeeded in life by trusting in God – as Joshua did – know who they owe it to, and they don’t forget it. This is an example for us, because it makes it clear that we must surrender our lives to God in order to obtain true success and blessing.

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 11:14-25 · John 8:48-59

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David’s New Cart (5)

The priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark. So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.

1 Chronicles 15:24–25 NKJV

David’s New Cart (5)

Let us now see the happy effect of the proper order being adhered to in David’s case. If you want to know where to find the proper order, read Exodus 25:13–15. The ark was only to be carried after that manner. God had written it plainly enough. But David had read his Bible carelessly. When David’s new cart was in use, we find that stumbling, death, displeasure, and disappointment were manifested; and joy, gladness, and worship conspicuous by their absence. All this is reversed when the proper order is observed: “raising the voice with resounding joy” (v. 16) was heard.

Only the priests could blow the trumpets. It takes a priest to give the signal that gathers the assembly together (Num. 10). And who were the doorkeepers? They took the greatest possible care of the ark. And surely, in connection with the order of the assembly when gathered for worship, the testimony of the gospel, the ministry of the Word of God, and the admission to His assembly today, it is of great importance to have the spirit of the doorkeepers here. We are to be very careful with regard to everything relating to Christ and His interests.

That is the sure result of obedience. “God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (1 Chr. 15:26). Observe God’s notice of the Levites when things are thus according to His mind—they are helped, and then typically in the sacrifices you see worship flowing up to God. If you and I set ourselves to really obey the Word of the Lord, no matter what it costs, we too shall find that God will help us, and there will be joy in our souls and worship, and fruitful service Godward.

-- W. T. P. Wolston

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Unspeakable Joy

And the disciples were called Christians . . .

—Acts 11:26

In the third century Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage, wrote to his friend Donatus, “It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people, who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians . . . and I am one of them.” If you have repented of your sins and have received Christ as Savior, then you, too, are one of them.

Prayer for the day
Today, Lord God, I remember all those Christians who have gone before me and thank You for the inspiration of their memory. May I never take for granted the heritage I have in Christ Jesus.

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Jesus wants to spend time with you!

‘But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.’ Luke 10:40 NIV

Mary and Martha were similar in that they both loved Jesus. But the difference showed up when He visited their home. ‘… Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”’ (Luke 10:38-42 NIV).

Jesus didn’t say that what Martha was doing was not good. He said that what Mary was doing was better. What was Mary doing? Sitting at His feet, listening to His words, loving and adoring Him. There is a lesson here, particularly for those involved in church work and ministry. Don’t get so involved in the work of the Lord that you fail to get involved with the Lord of the work. American author E.M. Bounds said, ‘To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him’.

If you are not being influenced by God, who or what is influencing you? People? Pressures? Circumstances? If Jesus had come for dinner, He may well have commended Martha and told Mary to get busy in the kitchen. But His priority, before going to the cross, was to spend time with those He loved. Here is a thought that will change your attitude towards prayer: Jesus wants to spend time with you!

SoulFood: 2 Chr 22-24 Luke 17:1-10 Ps 119:121-128 Pro 22:4-7

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