Out of Egypt
This is an audio recording of Out of Egypt the Day 10 entry in Today: Devotions for Seafarers (Vol. 2) by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Donielle Hart Goad or read the text below:
“They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” ”
Have you ever asked for something and received more than you asked for?
One of the great pilgrimages of Scripture is the trek of the Israelites from Egypt, where they had been slaves, to the promised land of Canaan. It's an account of great adventure but also great tragedy. Many of the stories from this time in Israel's history are among the most dramatic, unforgettable stories in all of Scripture. After this great adventure, how could the people not trust the Lord Almighty as they stood at the door to the Promised Land?
Yet, amazingly, that is what happened. After witnessing the great works of the Lord in their escape from Egypt— the ten plagues, the walk through the Red Sea on dry land, the destruction of Pharaoh's army (Exodus 7-15)— the people of Israel showed a great lack of confidence in God when they reached the land of promise. Rather than having confidence that the Lord would again do as he had promised, they rejected the advice of Caleb and Joshua, who trusted the Lord. So the people paid a heavy price. Their desert wanderings for the next forty years became a testimony to their lack of faith in God.
In our own lives, God often provides abundantly for us also— and yet, when we're faced with a challenge, we fail to trust that he will bring us through. The Lord has promised our salvation. Let's hold firm to his promises.
For Further Thought
What does it mean to be a pilgrim?
Why do we often fail to trust God in life?
What causes us to lack confidence? How can we have confidence from God?
Prayer
Lord of history, the past, present, and future are in your hands. You know all things and work in all things for good. Lead us by your promises. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
