Friday, 23 August 2024
“But even after all he did, you refused to trust the LORD your GOD, who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day” – Deuteronomy 1:32-33 NLT
The Israelites, while in Egypt, were slaves who suffered great persecution from their masters. They lived in anguish and pain, and cried out to the LORD for years, to liberate them from their tormenters. I’m sure they must have cried out to the GOD of their forefathers to come to their aid. Then GOD answered their prayers and brought a miracle/breakthrough through His servant Moses. When they were eventually released, they were allowed to plunder the Egyptians’ stores and possessions. In an instant, they became wealthy and free. This is what we could now refer to as a “suddenly” situation. Besides getting their freedom, their GOD even promised them Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land they were to possess for many generations. You’d think that with all the LORD had done for them, they would be faithful and grateful, well you’d be wrong. At every opportunity, they started bickering and forgot where they came from.
Israel’s walk should be a lesson to us, that the journey toward acquiring or possessing your inheritance from the LORD will come with its own challenges. In the same way, a pregnant woman accepts fatigue and body pains as part of the pregnancy. Though she is in constant pain, she soldiers on, because she knows what the prize will be at the end. The Bible talks about challenges coming as a result of the word that has been spoken (Matthew 13:18-23). So these challenges shouldn’t deter us, if anything, they should encourage us because this is the confirmation that the word is truly from the LORD, as it attracts persecution (James 1:12).
A word of blessing has been spoken to you personally, through GOD’s servant. We already know it WILL attract challenges (it’s not a matter of if, but of when) and along the way, there might be a strong desire to quit, but now that you know what you now know, what are you going to do? I guess these challenges will determine and test how far your roots go. They will determine if they are shallow or very deep. Another important thing to remember is like the Israelites who also received the word of breakthrough (Canaan), not all of them made it because of their hearts and bickering. This means, that even though you are the right recipient of the promise/breakthrough, your attitude and confession will go a long way in determining if it will come to fruition.
Like an expectant mother, we must have a long-suffering mindset. Though there is pain at the moment, we will endure till the appointed time when we will reap the rewards. The legs may be swollen like those of elephants, and we may walk like ducks, and our facial features swollen, but our resolve and confession will not change. We will carry this baby till full term. Whatever negative report that will come, we will have Elijah’s stubbornness. We will see a cloud and hear the sound of rain when no one else does (even those who are on the same journey as us).
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV.
Like an expectant mother, we must have a long-suffering mindset. Though there is pain at the moment, we will endure till the appointed time when we will reap the rewards.
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