Blog
Streams in the desert
By Glenn Foreman
The Lord continues to remind me, that He is our refuge and strength in the mist of the issues of life. I wish I could just remember that all the day long. Isn’t it interesting that no matter how long you walk with God, he still takes us though desert places? What is really amazing about the desert, is how we look at one another as if one has it made in the shade and if we were like them or had what they have, it wouldn’t be as painful, although we are on the same journey, suffering the same things, with the same God. THERE IS NO SHADE IN THE DESERT!! Did not Moses suffer the same lack as the rest of the people? Did God secretly give Moses more food than the people? Weren’t they all in the same desert although Moses was following God closely? The desert was “Appointed by God” When we read through Exodus, we see that Gods people are released from slavery, and we read it’s a rather short journey to the promise land, but only IF they obey God and walk in His ways. As they struggle to walk in faith, overlooking the visible while taking hold of the invisible, the journey becomes long, stressful, treacherous and ultimately leading to a feeling of abandonment, then sin. Because of their lack of provisions, food and relationship with God, they decide it’s better to turn back and return to slavery and go back to Egypt. “At least in Egypt we had what we needed” Anyone who has given their life to God has desert experiences. You will find the people never went back to Egypt, but died in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. Have you had thoughts of turning back. If so, remember it will never be the same, because you are not the same, you are bought at a price. Will you attempt to bargain with God and buy yourself back? God won’t sell you, he said Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you." You are not for sell!! God is committed to us, so what is it God is looking for? Is His top priority to make sure we just have food, money, clothing, bills paid or is it something more? Jesus said in Matt 4:4 but 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. In Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the unbelievers seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. I don’t want to be unreal in my writings, but think about this scripture. Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed, If no one was broken hearted or sick, then there is no one to heal, if no one is taken captive, no one to release, no blind, then no sight recovery needed. Point being God wants to show himself strong on your behalf! Without a desert, there is no need for the river. God wants to give you a river, a stream in your desert, but every river has banks, which is the work of God in your life. A flowing river without banks, becomes a stagnant swamp. So what is our response? If God is in the desert then that is where I want to be!! Lord wherever you are is where I want to be. Be strong, don’t be afraid, be encouraged, you are not abandoned or forgotten, God is with you!! Perhaps someone asks, "Of what value are the stories of the Israelites to us today?" The Word of God says: "These things happened to them as examples (or illustrations) and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (1 Cor. 10:11) As God delivered the children of Israel from the power of the desert, in a similar way, God wants to deliver every child of Adam from the power of sin. Isaiah 35:3-7 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Tell those who have a fearful heart, "Be strong. Don't be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God's retribution. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame man will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will sing; For waters will break out in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
By Glenn Foreman
The Lord continues to remind me, that He is our refuge and strength in the mist of the issues of life. I wish I could just remember that all the day long. Isn’t it interesting that no matter how long you walk with God, he still takes us though desert places? What is really amazing about the desert, is how we look at one another as if one has it made in the shade and if we were like them or had what they have, it wouldn’t be as painful, although we are on the same journey, suffering the same things, with the same God. THERE IS NO SHADE IN THE DESERT!! Did not Moses suffer the same lack as the rest of the people? Did God secretly give Moses more food than the people? Weren’t they all in the same desert although Moses was following God closely? The desert was “Appointed by God” When we read through Exodus, we see that Gods people are released from slavery, and we read it’s a rather short journey to the promise land, but only IF they obey God and walk in His ways. As they struggle to walk in faith, overlooking the visible while taking hold of the invisible, the journey becomes long, stressful, treacherous and ultimately leading to a feeling of abandonment, then sin. Because of their lack of provisions, food and relationship with God, they decide it’s better to turn back and return to slavery and go back to Egypt. “At least in Egypt we had what we needed” Anyone who has given their life to God has desert experiences. You will find the people never went back to Egypt, but died in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. Have you had thoughts of turning back. If so, remember it will never be the same, because you are not the same, you are bought at a price. Will you attempt to bargain with God and buy yourself back? God won’t sell you, he said Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you." You are not for sell!! God is committed to us, so what is it God is looking for? Is His top priority to make sure we just have food, money, clothing, bills paid or is it something more? Jesus said in Matt 4:4 but 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. In Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the unbelievers seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. I don’t want to be unreal in my writings, but think about this scripture. Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed, If no one was broken hearted or sick, then there is no one to heal, if no one is taken captive, no one to release, no blind, then no sight recovery needed. Point being God wants to show himself strong on your behalf! Without a desert, there is no need for the river. God wants to give you a river, a stream in your desert, but every river has banks, which is the work of God in your life. A flowing river without banks, becomes a stagnant swamp. So what is our response? If God is in the desert then that is where I want to be!! Lord wherever you are is where I want to be. Be strong, don’t be afraid, be encouraged, you are not abandoned or forgotten, God is with you!! Perhaps someone asks, "Of what value are the stories of the Israelites to us today?" The Word of God says: "These things happened to them as examples (or illustrations) and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (1 Cor. 10:11) As God delivered the children of Israel from the power of the desert, in a similar way, God wants to deliver every child of Adam from the power of sin. Isaiah 35:3-7 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Tell those who have a fearful heart, "Be strong. Don't be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God's retribution. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame man will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will sing; For waters will break out in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
