Lead Us Lord:
Wow! How so very true? No wonder Jesus taught us to ask the Father to lead us into temptation. Temptations are guaranteed for as long as we are alive. We will always be tempted by one thing or the other, within and without us. There is no running away from temptations.
Hence, our task is not that of avoidance but rather that of building skills and strengths. It is not about life being easy but about building strengths to overcome all the challenges life throws our way. And, how much easier can that be than with the assurance of heaven's backing and presence.
If You Were in the Wilderness?
So, when you read the story of the Israelites, which of these two bewildered you: That the Israelites had challenges even with God leading them, or that they complained even though they had God leading them? Which of these is the dilemma of your own life?
What do you, or can you learn from the Israelite story? What was God upset with? Was He upset that they had temptations or challenges? Or was he upset by their response to the temptations? Did the temptations surprise God? Or, He intentionally led them into it?
There is a Reason. There is a Cause.
The scriptures tell us the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. If He could do that for Jesus, why or how do you suppose He will not do the same for each of us? In fact, God goes ahead to tell us why He led Israel through the wilderness. Do you know the two reasons?
God said He led them through the wilderness to show what was in their heart. Wow! You mean God did not know what was in their hearts? Let me surprise you. The answer is yes. God did not know what was in their hearts. This is the fallacy of the Calvinistic and Reformed Theology false teachings.
They teach, God already knows those that will be saved. Really? Fools and ignoramuses who have no clue of their own ignorance. If God knows, He would not have taken the Israelites through the wilderness. He might as well have killed them all and flown Joshua and Caleb into the promised land.
God Does Not Know:
God, Himself, said the first reason He took them through the wilderness was to "see what is in their heart." The same applies to us today. The wilderness is our pilgrimage. Just like He lead the Israelites through the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, He is leading you and me through our life's pilgrimage.
What are you made of? What are you made of corruptible stock, or incorruptible? Is a spirit of faith in you, or is it the spirit of fear and doubt? Has hurry taken over you? Are you aware of the presence of God in your life? Is it making a difference for you?
God Wants You to Know:
Herein is the second reason why God took them through the wilderness. It is that they might realize that, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from God." God wants you to understand you cannot do life on your own. You cannot do life in your own strengths and or capabilities?
God intentionally allowed the temptations to give them wisdom, strengths, and capabilities, in and through Him. He is doing the same thing with you and me today. The question is have we learned anything from the Israelites? Or, are we reinventing the same old wheel?
Are is it in your life? Is it full of faith, praise, and love? Or, you are just a modern Israelite, full of complaints, hurry, and fear? You do know the choice is always yours to make, not God's. He is never mocked, irrespective of who you are or your supposed connections.
Just as you sow so shall you reap. That is sacrosanct.
Still Loving You.
St. Akin de Great.
© 2021 Akin Akinbodunse.
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