And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:2-3
Sara Groves - Painted Pictures of Egypt
Sara sings in this song, "Those Roads are closed off to me, while my back was turned". This screamed out to me words of incredible understanding. The scripture above reminded me of something that my Pastor in Oklahoma told me.
Pastor Nick Garland of First Baptist of Broken Arrow had a sermon series going on The Exodus. I went up to him after the service once and said to him, "i just don't understand how the Israelites would want to go back to Egypt."
He said something I will never forget he said something like this:
We all go through that though. We see the past as something it's not and think things like remember back when this good thing happened or that good thing happened and not remembering the struggles that were there, thus causing the reason why we weren't there anymore.
i wish I could remember exactly how Pastor Nick said it to me but he was saying that we are all the same as The Israelites in the days of Noah. They were no different than we are today.
That reminds me of how things are for me today. There are roads closed to me that have been closed by God and I cannot reopen them no matter how I try. Because God doesn't want us to live in the past. God has made our way forward, there is a path that has been planned for us from the beginning of time. He chose us before the foundation of the world He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ (Eph. 14-5). He chose me (and you) God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He said in Deuteronomy 32:20,29) "I will see what their end will be, If they were wise they would discern their latter end". in Jeremiah 1:5, "before I formed you in the womb I knew You"
(further study on predestination read:Romans 8:29; Acts 4:28; Ephesians 1:11)
Trust in God to lead you to your next lesson. Just like the Israelites in the desert he is testing us all, "that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not." (Deuteronomy 8:2)
(More further reading in Deut. 8- God remind them in the desert what He had done like clothing, food and future read the verses in Deut. 8:3-20) its shows so much that God is still doing today.
Take A moment
Think back, I know I said not to live in the past but this is different, remembering what God has done gives us hope. Think back on times that seemed hard and impossible to get through and see how God got you through those times, it will enlighten you to God's plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11) His great love for you (Psalm 86:13).
