There are several vivid parallels between God's relationship with the nation of Israel and His relationship with us. God set Israel free from their captivity in Egypt and led them to the promise land. Yet they refused to enter the land because of their fear of the giants that were there. We are the same way. God has freed us from the bondage of our sin. Yet, when He shows us the freedom we are now allowed to live in we are scared to enter it. There are giants there, whether it be bills, health, relationships, addiction, emotion or yourself. There are battles to be fought and it is like we don't trust that God will fight for us, or not fail us. So we try to fight the battles ourselves and we end up licking our wounds just as the Israelites did when they didn't take God with them into the battle.
God is disappointed in us so He sends us into the wilderness, just like the nation of Israel. But God uses the wilderness to get us refocused and strengthen our spirit. We gain confidence in ourselves but more importantly we build our trust in God. We remember that He does fight with us and for us and we come back to our first love....God!!!
Author Gary Thomas says this about our struggles, "Beauty is often birthed in struggle. These struggles may not be 'fun' - in fact, they can make us feel like we're being ripped apart - but the process can make us stronger, build our character, and deepen our faith.
People leave Christianity because it is too hard! This tendency to avoid difficulty is a grave spiritual failing that can and often does keep us in Christian infancy. The desire for ease, comfort, and stress-free living is an indirect desire to remain an 'unseasoned' immature Christian. Struggle makes us stronger, it builds us up and deepens our faith. But this result is achieved only when we face the struggle head on, not when we run from it.
God doesn't protect Christians from their problems - He helps them walk victoriously through their problems."
If climbing Mount Everest was easy everyone would do it. It is the same with following Christ. If it was easy wouldn't everyone do it?
A teacher once told me to "think eternally". Look at what is behind the giants in your life - FREEDOM!!! God tells you what He told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1 - you have been here long enough, it is time to move on...you must face your giants!
He tells you the same thing He tells Joshua and the Israelites - I will not fail you or abandon you - Joshua 1:5. You need to be strong and courageous. Just read the rest of Joshua, the Israelites conquered, BIG TIME!!!
But the key is this - Praise. In Joshua 6 we see the fall of Jericho...a major fortified city...total collapse. We need to praise God - let Him go with us and before us. Just as He did for the Israelites He will do for us! We can face our giants head on - knowing that God is not only fighting for us - He is leading us! We just need to praise Him!!
It is time!!!
Be blessed,
It is time!!!
Be blessed,
Steve
