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Sometimes en route to the blessing, it looks so dry and barren. We thirst for refreshing, we grow so hungry for what was promised and all we see in our lives, at the present time, is dry barren dessert. It seems that we have traveled so many miles, over so many sandy hills, cresting one hill only to see in the vast horizon countless others that must be crossed. "When will I finally arrive, how much farther must I travel before the promised land is in view?"
The "dryness" of the moment should not deceive us into thinking we will not inherit what God has promised. After all, it's during this time that character can be built into us; and it's often during this time that we come face to face with the cross roads of faith and doubt. Are we moved by the moment, looking at our present circumstances or surroundings, causing us to come to the decision that we will never arrive? Or are we continually bringing back to mind that which God has said, feeding our faith through the Word, and therefore going from strength to strength. Yes, sometimes it's so barren and dry on the way to the blessing.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were given a vision that God was taking them to a land flowing with milk and honey; which was their place of blessing. However, on the way they passed through the harsh desert and had to endure some real discomfort. Battling a degree of hunger and thirst (the realm of the senses, their flesh), they came to the place where they eventually threw out the vision of the blessing ever becoming a reality, and exchanged it for the evil report of unbelief (Numbers 14:1-38, Hebrews 3:19, 4:6, 4:11). They even began to form a "Let's go back to Egypt" committee, thinking that the old way of bondage and captivity was better than the promise of God.
During this time of passage through the desert, they were fed supernaturally with manna, their daily bread, and they even drank water from the Rock. The Bible tells us this Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), and the manna being a figurative "type" of Christ (John 6:48-58). In this, there is a survival secret if we want to pass through our dry barren desert in victory.
We must look to the refreshment of drinking from the Rock for our sustenance. In the Bible, water is many times symbolic for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. In other words, we must not dare to pass through the desert situations in life in our own strength. Instead, we must stay refreshed by drinking in the Word and continuing in the presence of the Holy Spirit daily.
Matthew 4:4 tells us that man does not live by bread alone (natural sustenance), but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Did you notice the word "proceeds?" This word is in the present tense and is saying, "that which is currently proceeding." God is speaking today, and you will begin to hear His voice by continually being in the Word. By doing this we will never lose our vision, in fact our vision will be enhanced and will grow and come into spiritual maturity. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
God's best waits just up ahead. It's there for those who will endure through the barren wilderness, enter in and take possession of it through faith and patience. Come on, keep going, don't stop now, we've come much too far. Look! We're coming to the top of another hill, let's take a look over the top, could this be it? Have we arrived? O well, it looks like we've got another hill to climb. Don't get discouraged, our blessing could be just on the other side of that next hill! Let's build up our strength with the bread of the Word of God, and enjoy another refreshing drink from basking in His presence. After all, sometimes it's dry on the way to the blessing!
The "dryness" of the moment should not deceive us into thinking we will not inherit what God has promised. After all, it's during this time that character can be built into us; and it's often during this time that we come face to face with the cross roads of faith and doubt. Are we moved by the moment, looking at our present circumstances or surroundings, causing us to come to the decision that we will never arrive? Or are we continually bringing back to mind that which God has said, feeding our faith through the Word, and therefore going from strength to strength. Yes, sometimes it's so barren and dry on the way to the blessing.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were given a vision that God was taking them to a land flowing with milk and honey; which was their place of blessing. However, on the way they passed through the harsh desert and had to endure some real discomfort. Battling a degree of hunger and thirst (the realm of the senses, their flesh), they came to the place where they eventually threw out the vision of the blessing ever becoming a reality, and exchanged it for the evil report of unbelief (Numbers 14:1-38, Hebrews 3:19, 4:6, 4:11). They even began to form a "Let's go back to Egypt" committee, thinking that the old way of bondage and captivity was better than the promise of God.
During this time of passage through the desert, they were fed supernaturally with manna, their daily bread, and they even drank water from the Rock. The Bible tells us this Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), and the manna being a figurative "type" of Christ (John 6:48-58). In this, there is a survival secret if we want to pass through our dry barren desert in victory.
We must look to the refreshment of drinking from the Rock for our sustenance. In the Bible, water is many times symbolic for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. In other words, we must not dare to pass through the desert situations in life in our own strength. Instead, we must stay refreshed by drinking in the Word and continuing in the presence of the Holy Spirit daily.
Matthew 4:4 tells us that man does not live by bread alone (natural sustenance), but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Did you notice the word "proceeds?" This word is in the present tense and is saying, "that which is currently proceeding." God is speaking today, and you will begin to hear His voice by continually being in the Word. By doing this we will never lose our vision, in fact our vision will be enhanced and will grow and come into spiritual maturity. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
God's best waits just up ahead. It's there for those who will endure through the barren wilderness, enter in and take possession of it through faith and patience. Come on, keep going, don't stop now, we've come much too far. Look! We're coming to the top of another hill, let's take a look over the top, could this be it? Have we arrived? O well, it looks like we've got another hill to climb. Don't get discouraged, our blessing could be just on the other side of that next hill! Let's build up our strength with the bread of the Word of God, and enjoy another refreshing drink from basking in His presence. After all, sometimes it's dry on the way to the blessing!