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He Brings Us Out To Take Us In

"Have you brought us out here to die?" the Israelites moaned to God as they wandered in circles in the wilderness. Everything was so glorious when he led them out of Egypt with signs and wonders and an outstretched arm. They were in awe of his mighty power and deeds and excited about what was to come (I would think). But then comes the desert, thirst, confusion, waiting by the mountain for some old man to come back down with instructions. What? We went through all of that for this? And the tempation is to run back to Egypt where life was at least predictable, familiar, even fun.

Wilderness temptation. I am coming to see that this wilderness temptation, the sense that God has abandoned us, or that we that have been following a mirage, is a major area of testing in our spiritual progress. And it can last a long time, much longer than we expect. But we can take heart, because God leads us out to take us in. And yes, I ended a sentance with a preposition, but what an excellent preposition! While it may not seem so at times, the Lord has a definite pupose in leading us out of Egypt, and he is intent upon leading us into that place called the Promised Land-once the wilderness has humbled us and conformed us more to his image. When I think of the "promised land", I think of purpose, destiny, calling. My promised land is to walk in the fullness of my purpose. "My meat (satisfaction) is to do the will of him who sent me." And so is ours.

Here is a scripture that fills me with hope (paraphrase): "The same God that brought you out of Egypt with signs and wonders and an outstretched arm will also thrust out every enemy from before you so that you may enter the Promised Land." I cannot find the reference but I know that it is in there! This fills me with such hope because I have experienced the first half of the equation. With great love, compassion, and patience, God pulled me out of the pit, broke off my chains, softened my hard heart, and gave me "salve" so that I could see. How I love to tell the stories to anyone who will listen. Like Mary, I have cherished these testimonies in my heart and I ponder and weep over them from time to time. I pray to the Lord that the memory of them will always move me to tears. But now it is all quiet. I am waiting, at times wondering. Doubts and fears come knocking at the door of my heart, and God's presence seems far at times. I know this place. I have been here a few times. And I have turned back to Egypt, to the familiar things of this world that bring me temporary solace and comfort. This time I want desperately to perservere. I want my heart to be like the good seed that bears much fruit. The only seed that bears a hundredfold is the patient seed that suffers through the fiery trials, unoffended and unafraid. Oh, I know that He is worth it. He is worth it all. I want to enter into that place of fruitfullness and destiny. With all of my strength, which is very little, I fix my eyes on Him. I want to come out of this wilderness "leaning on my beloved" with a new intimacy and fire in my eyes for the One who is the One. Yes, He brought me out for a definite purpose, to take me in!
"Before our eyes the Lord sent miraculous signs and wonders-great and terrible-upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers." Deuteronomy 6:23

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