Dear Family,
Today is Tuesday, April 25, 2023. It is Day 17; and, it is Day 3 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost.
As all thinking adults know, every life has plenty of temptations, challenges, and adversities. And, they come in all varieties.
During this week of Counting to Pentecost and our following the journey of the Israelites, we find ancient Israel resting comfortably at the oasis of Elim. God’s presence was with them as they rested. He was in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
Exodus 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
During periods of plenty and rest from powerful challenges, some people tend to take good things like food, water, peace, health, freedom, unity, stability, and access to God for granted. The wise ones remember the blessings as well as the challenges and adversities that are bound to come again, and they prepare ahead. They gather the resources that need to be gathered. They stay in intimate contact with God. They grow while there is plentiful physical and spiritual nutrition.
The story of Israel at Elim demonstrates one of God’s patterns of interacting with His people. At times, God does grant us all periods of rest from our trials. He knows exactly what level of challenge we can face. And, He promises to be with us in both the good times and the times of adversity.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful; Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In the book of Matthew, we learn of 5 wise virgins and 5 unwise ones. Half of the group had prepared ahead while the other half did not. Let us be wise enough to enjoy our times of rest and plenty while we prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and especially spiritually for what lies ahead for us in God’s Master Plan.
While we may not know exactly what to expect in our near future, surely, we all realize that we must be alert and prepared while we enjoy a time of relative peace and plenty.
May God bless and strengthen each one of us.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God