The Story: A long journey
When I am going on a car journey to a new destination I always use my Sat Nav. Over the course of my many journeys this has resulted in some hilarious outcomes. On one occasion crossing a narrow winding road high up in the French Pyrenees the Sat Nav calmly told us to “turn left”. Obeying it would have meant hurtling off the road to certain death.
I am sure we have all seen pictures on TV where lorries following Sat Nav instructions have got stuck up narrow country lanes. Maybe you have heard reports of elderly ladies driving down the wrong side of the motorway because their Sat Nav told them to.
In Chapter 6 of The Story we have God leading Israel on a long journey. In the previous chapter we had the children of Israel experiencing an amazing escape from slavery in Egypt. Now a journey into the unknown awaits them.
Poor old Moses has over 3 million “big kids” complaining and asking “Are we there yet?”
The hard thing about road trips with little kids is their fussing, fighting and endless questioning. Although God knows where they are going the people do not have that information. The whole journey they are on calls for trust and obedience but as we will see these are in short supply.
This chapter is full of one frustrating escapade after another. At every turn God shows that He is with them and is worthy of the people’s trust yet they have a hard time trusting Him.
This week we as we dig into The Story we discover God’s clear plan: deliver His people through a series of miracles, defeat their enemies, give them a covenant and set of laws to make them a chosen nation, and provide them a land of promise.
Simple, right?
God speaks; the people listen – well that’s what we would hope, but does that actually happen? You will have to read more of the chapter to find out.
We are all on our own journey through life. Not one of us can say with any certainty what will happen next? I certainly never thought this time last week that my entire leg would be in a plaster cast. Some of the things that we will have to face will demand courage, may cause tears to flow and complaints a mile long. The only thing that we can guarantee is that God promises to be with us through it all.
Why not join us in The Story this week in discovering how God was there for the people of Israel in the rough times and the good. The God who was with them yesterday is the same God today and tomorrow. I hope that you will allow God to accompany you on your journey and that you will sense that you need never walk alone.
