Crossing Over into the Wilderness

CROSSING OVER INTO THE WILDERNESS
The Importance of Living in God's Presence
January 11, 2012

Exodus 15:26 MSG, emphasis added
God said, "If you listen, listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, then I won't strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer."

Even after the Israelites have been delivered from Egypt, seeing all the signs and wonders the LORD has performed, they were still as stubborn as before; all that they knew was to complain about the inconvenience of their present state. This is why it was necessary for the LORD to test them before they posssess the Promised Land. Here in the wilderness, the LORD started testing the Israelites.

Most of the time, God brings us into circumstances in our lives where our true character will be exposed. Even after the many wonders of the Lord that we have witnessed as Christians, our heart remains stubborn to His correction. Sometimes we think that we are better off in another place than where we are currently in, but the truth is we are just unwilling to yield to the formation that God is doing in our lives, which is necessary for us to be able to contain the greater things that God has prepared for those whom He have called to His Kingdom.

All our lives we have been inflicted by many pains and struggles, and a one time encounter with God is not enough to reveal and cleanse all of them. A continuous walk with God and a selfless obedience to His commands is what we need to live a life of freedom in Christ, and for us to pass this on from one generation to another. This is what the LORD meant when He said "then I won't strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer."

If we follow His commands and carefully obey all that He commands us to do, we will live a life free from pain and struggle, and God will continuously heal us from every affliction that we encounter in our journey towards building His Kingdom here on earth. This is what it means to freely live in His presence.

Exodus 15:16-18 MSG, emphasis Added
   Before your brandished right arm
      they were struck dumb like a stone,
   Until your people crossed over and entered, O God,
      until the people you made crossed over and entered.
   You brought them and planted them
      on the mountain of your heritage,
   The place where you live,
      the place you made,
   Your sanctuary, Master,
      that you established with your own hands.
   Let God rule
      forever, for eternity!

This was part of the song of praise the Israelites sang right after they have crossed the Red Sea and have been freed from the hands of their Egyptian oppressors.

It is often impossible for us to cross over from a difficult situation in our lives to a place of relief, especially when there is an impending promotion that God has in store for us. The period of wilderness testing to which the LORD has brought the Israelites is a picture of the season in our lives where our charecter will be tested the most; where God will remove every form of pride and selfishness, fear and arrogance. This is the time when we learn to completely depend upon God's redeeming power, and surrender everything upon His feet. This is the place where we are planted firmly upon the grounds of His love, where we learn the value of seeking His presence and become established in our faith like never before.

And God will bring us to a the place where He rules, and where His name will be exalted forever and ever.