WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN A 'DESERT'

 

Friday, October 23, 2020 A Way Through LISTEN   “And they said to Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?’” —Exodus 14:11 I spent part of my childhood living with my grandparents.  Sometimes we’d go to their cabin in Yucca Valley, which is in the desert, and it was freezing cold.  This cabin didn’t have electricity or a bathroom, so we had to use an outhouse. Today the thought of spending time in the desert isn’t all that appealing to me. When the Israelites left Egypt, they weren’t excited about spending time in the desert, either.  After God sent a series of plagues, Pharaoh finally agreed to release the Israelites.  But as they made their way to a new land, they came to what looked like an insurmountable obstacle: The Red Sea. To make matters worse, they looked up to see Egyptian army coming after them.  They went to Moses and said,  “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? . . . It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!” (Exodus 14:11–12 NLT). So Moses began to pray, and the Lord effectively told him, “This isn’t a time to pray; this is a time to move.”  He told Moses to lift his staff over the Red Sea, which he did.  The waters parted, and the Israelites walked through on dry ground.  Then the waters collapsed on the pursuing Egyptian army. Sometimes we find ourselves in a desert of sorts, and we don't know why we’re there.  It’s a time of trial and hardship, and we can’t make any sense out of it.  We’re trying to figure out why this has happened, and we don’t see a way through. The Bible tells us,  “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2 NKJV).  If you have a need, bring it to God.  There’s nothing wrong with praying about whatever you’re in need of.  So pray about it, but don’t complain about it. Share this today:     Thriving in Love and Money? Receive a copy for your gift of support today » Over 90 percent of couples experience some level of tension around money. In fact, money issues are the number one stressor in relationships. Thriving in Love and Money is based on original research Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn have conducted to get to the heart of these issues. Let this book deepen your understanding of each other. Donate now and receive your copy! Copyright © 2020 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Harvest Ministries exists with your support to Know God and Make Him Known. If you would like, you can update your preferences. This email may be considered an advertising or promotional email. Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514-4000 Phone: 1-800-821-3300