ACT 15: WILDERNESS BREAK
So far, our Lent Devotions have offered, if my count is correct 28 Acts of Generosity. Here is what I want to suggest let’s take today and tomorrow and put one or two of those suggestions into play. That’s OUR challenge.
Since the First Sunday in Lent, when we looked at Jesus in the wilderness being tempted, I have been doing a good deal of reflection on the “Wilderness” theme in the Bible. We generally view times in life of experiencing the wilderness or desert as negative, as a time of barrenness, difficulty and a lack of growth, but that’s only half the message in scripture.
In Hebrew, the word for wilderness is "midbar." It is interesting that the root of midbar has the meaning of “speak” or “word.” God speaks to us in the wilderness. We saw this in Jesus story in Matthew 4:1-10. My reflection has resulted in my thoughts wondering if the wilderness times in our life are not a discipline for sin, you know a kind of a being sent to your room for disobedience kind of thing, but more a place without the usual distractions, to help us hear God’s voice and guidance.
Let me cite a couple of examples, One of the Women in scripture whose story I am drawn to is Hagar. She runs from Sarah, remember where? The wilderness, a dry and barren place, and there we read she encountered in all of her fear and worry and disappointment, “the God who sees me.” What a discovery!!
10 He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
11 Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions.
13 He let them ride over the highlands and feast on the crops of the fields.
He nourished them with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground.
14 He fed them yogurt from the herd and milk from the flock, together with the fat of lambs.
He gave them choice rams from Bashan, and goats, together with the choicest wheat.
You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.
In the wilderness God speaks to his people. To you and me as his special possession too! There is some awesome news for us today.
Here is a Prayer for us today.
God’s Word in the wilderness
When our route is confused and we look for clarification
Your Word is a lamp to our feet
When our vision is impaired and we seek a way forward
Your Word is a light to our path
When we experience temptation and trust in the mirage
Your Word is a lamp to our feet
When we gaze into the darkness and wonder where to place the next step
Your Word is a light to our path
When we need to take our bearings and the compass is unsteady
Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path
MARCH 22, 2022
So far, our Lent Devotions have offered, if my count is correct 28 Acts of Generosity. Here is what I want to suggest let’s take today and tomorrow and put one or two of those suggestions into play. That’s OUR challenge.
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Since the First Sunday in Lent, when we looked at Jesus in the wilderness being tempted, I have been doing a good deal of reflection on the “Wilderness” theme in the Bible. We generally view times in life of experiencing the wilderness or desert as negative, as a time of barrenness, difficulty and a lack of growth, but that’s only half the message in scripture.
In Hebrew, the word for wilderness is "midbar." It is interesting that the root of midbar has the meaning of “speak” or “word.” God speaks to us in the wilderness. We saw this in Jesus story in Matthew 4:1-10. My reflection has resulted in my thoughts wondering if the wilderness times in our life are not a discipline for sin, you know a kind of a being sent to your room for disobedience kind of thing, but more a place without the usual distractions, to help us hear God’s voice and guidance.
Let me cite a couple of examples, One of the Women in scripture whose story I am drawn to is Hagar. She runs from Sarah, remember where? The wilderness, a dry and barren place, and there we read she encountered in all of her fear and worry and disappointment, “the God who sees me.” What a discovery!!
In Deuteronomy 32 there is a beautiful description of God’s relationship with his people:
“For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession.
“For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession.
10 He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
11 Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions.
12 The Lord alone guided them; they followed no foreign gods.
13 He let them ride over the highlands and feast on the crops of the fields.
He nourished them with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground.
14 He fed them yogurt from the herd and milk from the flock, together with the fat of lambs.
He gave them choice rams from Bashan, and goats, together with the choicest wheat.
You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.
In the wilderness God speaks to his people. To you and me as his special possession too! There is some awesome news for us today.
Here is a Prayer for us today.
God’s Word in the wilderness
When our route is confused and we look for clarification
Your Word is a lamp to our feet
When our vision is impaired and we seek a way forward
Your Word is a light to our path
When we experience temptation and trust in the mirage
Your Word is a lamp to our feet
When we gaze into the darkness and wonder where to place the next step
Your Word is a light to our path
When we need to take our bearings and the compass is unsteady
Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path
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