The Children of Israel spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. What should have been a one-year journey from
Egypt to Palestine was extend because of some poor decisions made by their leaders
early in the trip. At the root of the problem
was a lack of faith. As a result, people
were inconvenienced and many lost their lives.
I believe God put the story in the Bible in hope that we might learn
from their experience.
I have been focusing on the Children of Israel and their
trials in the wilderness a lot over the last few weeks. I see some similarities in our current
situation. We are now five months into
the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no site of the end. In my opinion, some decisions made by our
leaders early in the pandemic has lengthened the journey. The “promised land” of normalcy seems a long
way off, as we wait for a vaccine. Like the Children of Israel, we have no conception [T1] [T2] of
what life after the pandemic will look like.
As I studied the story in Exodus, I note that two things
sustained the Children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings. God provided for their needs and he was also
visibly present in their lives. On a
daily basis he gave them the gift of manna and quail so they could eat. He also miraculously supplied them with
water, even though they were in a barren land.
He also led them throughout their journey with a cloud during the day
and a pillar of fire at night. The
religious leaders also constructed the Tabernacle where they could
worship. It also served as a “tent of
meetings” so Moses could personally converse with Yahweh.
As I wander through this wilderness of the COVID-19
pandemic I am very much aware of God’s presence. In many ways this has been a spiritual journey
unlike any I have ever experienced. I am
reminded of God’s goodness each morning during my personal quiet time and at
night after turning off the light. I
have a scripture verse that I select each day.
Those words sustain me each day.
God is good, and Barb and I have lacked for nothing during this time,
aside from the obvious absence of fellowship.
God’s Word serves as my cloud and pillar of fire.
Aaron’s words still sustain me:
“The
Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord
make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The
Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
(Numbers
6:24-26)
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