Looking forward to joining you all at the source group tomorrow night Thurs. Oc.t 15 at 7:30 in the foyer of Minors Lane campus. Bring your Bible. Here's some highlights for discussion:
The Dry and Dusty Wilderness read pages 33-36 "One in a Million"
Read Ex. 13:17-20 , Ex. 14:1-4, Isa. 55:8, Jer. 10:23, Job 42:5, Psl 145:17
When the Israelites left Egypt, they probably figured it would take about a month to arrive in Canaan (about 150 miles). Instead, they were led by God into a wilderness. How would you have felt if you were in the sandals of a Hebrew? They were in the desert on foot when a more convenient route obviously existed. They camped in Etham to prepare for their journey. The author equates Etham as a place where God gives a vision of what's coming. It’s a place to consider the challenge ahead. Perhaps He is asking you to stay in a rough marriage, to mother difficult children, to accept singleness, to choose full-time ministry, to let go of friendships, to suffer illness for a season, or to navigate a situation we feel we can't survive. It seems that we don't know the details of the life God is choosing for us at this time, but a quick look at the tumbleweed blowing across the landscape could be an indication of a dry place ahead…Are you camped at an "Etham" right now?
God's ways are not our ways. When you look at the Israelites journey, we now understand that travel through the wilderness protected them from military encounters that would have sent them back to Egypt. They witnessed so many miracles of God's provision and protection. Read I Peter 1:6-7 for insight on trials and their purpose in our lives.
Look at Job's story. He was a "blamesless, upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil". The pupose is found in Job 42:5…as Job says "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You." At this point, Job said that his relationship with the Lord went from one based on hearsay to one grounded in experience.
Think of a situation in which you "saw" God because of a wilderness experience. Don't be afraid of God's plan. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds." Psl. 145:17
See ya Thursday!
Becky
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