February 18, 2021 CAC Livin g Water Devotional : Topic – WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE IN LIFE (I1)
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
LIVING WATER🌊 CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Thursday, February 18, 2021
WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE IN LIFE (I1)
Read: Exodus 3:7- 10
Exodus 3:7-10 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
MEMORISE:
So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites (Exodus 3:8).
EXPOSITION
There are some things that n need to be noted about the wilderness:
First is that, it is a place of surprise! The wilderness wandering was a surprise to Isreal. They found themselves in a sandy place, place far away from ordered land, a dwelling place of wild and demonic creatures. Wilderness is a refuge of the outlaws. In short, in the wilderness, Isreal somewhat entered into chaos! Life is full of surprises. Isn’t it? Sometimes, you unveil your wife, only to find Leah while expecting Rachael. Surprise surprise! (cf. Gen. 29:25)! Sometimes, it is your dream of becoming great in life that is like crashing as you find yourself in Potiphar’s household as the chief of the slaves. In all, God is driving at something glorious you will laugh last about.
Secondly, the wilderness is a place of testing. God tested the Isrealites in the wilderness to know what was in their hearts. He already knew them but would prove what was in their hearts (Deut. 8:2). The point is that, their obedience or disobedience had to be proven in history. Yes. You regularly confess, I love You, Lord. I will never forsake You’. Expect to be regularly divinely tested to prove your genuineness and sincerity. Abraham’s faithfulness was proved (Gen. 22:1ff).
Lastly, the wilderness is a place of total reliance on God; not a place of self-reliance. God led them into the desert where they had no alternative than to trust Him for their survival. There, they couldn’t produce their own food but had to depend on God for food and other daily supplies (Deut. 8:3). His Word brought them bread, but bread alone, i.e bread acquired independent of His Word, couldn’t keep them alive. Is God leading you from the ‘known’ to the ‘unknown’? Trust and obey Him!
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Give praises to God who brings beauty out of ashes in your life.
2. Praise Him for bringing orderliness out of chaos in your life.
3. Pray for the spirit that trusts in God always, and that you will not become self-reliance.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY Leviticus 13:20 – 14:24; Matthew 28:20; Mark 1:1.