God is still close
My husband and I were talking about the circumstances of the Israelites when God led them out of Egypt and they wandered the desert for forty years , when logistically it was a short three week walk to the Promise Land. Why did God lead them around in circles for forty years in the desert? One of the reasons for the delay to the Promise Land was the Israelites were a stiff neck people, who complained about their circumstances. I wondered how could not the Israelites see and be thankful for the miracles God gave them? The Israelites clothes and sandals never wore out, they received manna to pick every morning for their food, there was a pillar of fire to guard them at night, and during the day a cloud was over them to shield them from the sun. God gave them water to drink, and when the Israelites complained about their not having meat but just manna, (angel food), God provided meat in the form of quail. I mused, oh, how I wish God was more tangible in our lives in this present age!
Then a small voice came unbidden to my heart, whispering, I am providing miracles that are all around you. I am close to you and live within you, are you paying attention? I really had to ponder this revelation. Are we so caught up in this noisy, computer, TV world that we have shut out God? Have we lost our sensitivity to the miracles God performs for us and are our senses on the spiritual level become dull?
God has shown up for me in many ways. He alerted my husband through technology, a cell phone, to come check on me when I was having a breakdown at 1:00 am in the morning. When I lost my phone on a rural country road and spent 2 days and nights looking for it vainly, I poured out my frustration and angst to the Lord. Just as I finished my prayer, my flashlight hit on a black screen and it was my cell phone! Coincidence? I don’t think so! God’s timing takes my breath away. There were the times listening to the TV Christian station, the pastor had a message that was tailored made for me in the moment I needed to hear it. Or when I needed encouragement and energy to perform a strenuous task for that day and my morning daily devotional gave me the message of the Holy Spirit to be a wind, (Ruach), at my back, to unfurl my sails and rise to the challenge of the day. And the energy was given to me!
So many times in my life God has shown up and has given me tangible miracles to let me know He is there. There are no coincidences. He has given His angels charge over me; to lift me up so my foot doesn’t strike a stone and to guard me in all my ways.
Could it be that being stiff necked has us aimlessly wandering in our own deserts, our senses dulled to His miracles? How do we get our sensitivity of spirit back to being in sync with the Lord? I believe we need to be in conversation, (prayer), with Him several times a day. We need to read His Word, (the Bible), to ponder, memorizing and meditating on His Word. We need to be thankful in all of our circumstances, especially the tribulations, for the Lord is growing us up and guiding us on the pathway to see us through. This is how we sensitize our spirits to be an open conduit to His presence and receive His miracles . God is as close to us as we allow Him to be.
”The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?””
1 Kings 19:11-13