In the Waiting

It’s easy to say I will never do what the Children of Israel did in the wilderness. I won’t complain. I’ll be obedient. We read the Bible with an outsider’s advantage. We have an after-the-fact-God-tells/shows-us-the-problem-from-a-bird's-eye-perspective-kind of view. However, we are more like the Children of Israel than I think some of us want to admit, or maybe it’s just me ;). 

In Exodus 32, the Children of Israel lost their faith in God. They believed that Moses had been taken away. Before this moment, they watched the water split open for them to cross. They saw the Egyptian army get tossed by the waves and washed under. The Children of Israel saw food come from heaven and water pour out of a rock. Based on evidence, they had every reason to believe, and they had committed to following and obeying God. However, they doubted.

How often do we doubt? Me??? Never ;)

The Bible tells us in Exodus 32:1, ...The man Moses…has disappeared… and they, the Children of Israel, asked Aaron to make them something to worship. Fear gripped them. Instead of going to God who had already shown them miracles, they went to something else to bring them comfort. Moses was taking too long; he didn’t come down the mountain in their time frame. They probably thought Moses had died. They couldn’t wait even though they had committed to follow God in previous chapters of the Bible.

In Exodus 19, God showed the Children of Israel that He was with Moses. Verse nine states, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.’” God made it clear He was with Moses. God then went through a list of instructions and social mandates, so they could live in peace. The Children of Israel agreed to do what God was asking. God told them no idol worship in Exodus 20:4. It was very clear what God was saying; yet they chose to disobey when they had to wait. It’s quite possible that they felt abandoned and hurt… afraid. 

I find myself in a season of waiting and trusting as I watch many things in my life get turned upside down. We have had health scares, financial conundrums, and relational breakdowns. God reassures me of His power and healing. The Goodness of God hasn’t left me, but if I am going to be honest, sometimes the circumstances can look like abandonment. In a lot of ways, I am backed up to an ocean that seems like an endless sea of toil. The particulars of this season aren’t as important as what God is teaching me through it all. Am I allowing God to comfort me or am I seeking comfort elsewhere? Will I be faithful in the waiting? Will I trust God when I can’t see?

Many evenings, I have wanted to comfort myself with food, TV, and other normal things people do, but God has asked me to go to Him. Food and TV are not bad things; however, when I use them to comfort my heart before God does, I put them before God. If I am going to be honest, I have made that choice many times to comfort myself with those things. Maybe the Children of Israel were trying to comfort themselves. They saw the power and presence of God in ways that were so tangible, yet they built an idol to worship. How many times have we seen God do the miraculous in our lives’? I know I have! 

The question now is will I keep turning to God when I can’t see? When things are taking too long, will I keep my eyes on Him, and my heart surrendered to Him with high expectation to see the continuation of the miraculous? Can I worship Him when storms are hitting my soul from every area? When the clouds are surrounding me.

In Egypt, there were many gods. It was probably common to worship different gods depending on the need. We don’t idolize things in the same fashion, but we do go to anything and everything for comfort.

Food, exercise, friends, children, even serving in church… all of these things are good; they become a problem when they become the focal point instead of God. 

What I can do is keep Him first while I wait for Him. Practically speaking, I continuously check in with God, meaning I am having a conversation throughout the day with Him. 

Sometimes it’s a lament, 

Sometimes it’s a cry, 

Sometimes it’s an apology, 

Sometimes it’s a prayer for faith, 

Sometimes it’s a shout of praise,

Sometimes it’s a reminder of God’s promise.

And most of the time, it’s a continuous conversation with God as I wait.

The goal is to have an all of the time open heart to God, so He can clean, mend, correct, encourage, and fill our hearts, souls, spirits, and minds while we wait.  Sometimes I am talking to God while I watch a show. When I am cooking and eating, I talk to Him. 

The Children of Israel didn’t do what God asked out of fear of the unknown and doubt and probably fear of abandonment.

They were impatient.

He challenges us to be patient and trust Him. 

As I encourage myself to put Him first, I also encourage you to keep God at the center by keeping your heart open to Him and responding to His comfort and direction with Obedience, Prayer, and Worship. He is faithful to direct your steps. He is directing mine. 

You’re Loved, Cherished & Redeemed,

Devyn Divine