Deuteronomy 2:3 You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north. (NLT)
The Israelites turned an eleven days march into forty years wandering, all because they didn’t treasure God’s instructions. Despite the Israelites’ disobedience, the Lord was with them throughout the 40 years. God blessed them, watched over their steps through the great wilderness, and they lacked nothing (Deuteronomy 2:7).
Sometimes the mountain we are wandering around will have a sense of comfort, but it doesn’t mean it’s God’s promise!
God didn’t want the people of Israel to spend all this time in the wilderness, but their attitude while waiting delayed and even kept them (except Joshua & Caleb) from receiving their promises.
The Israelites wandering syndrome is connected to a group of other characteristics of their behaviours:
- The way you wait, matters:
The people of Israel waited for God’s promises in rebellion, doubt, murmur, complaint, fear and many others. The Israelites’ attitude caused them to circle the same mountain over and over again for years.
Doesn’t that sound a lot like many of us? For instance, God promised an excellent relationship for someone, and God is saying today: it is time to TURN and stop circling around that same ungodly relationship mindset.
Let’s be children of God who wait in faith while still in the wilderness. Choose to believe and walk directly towards your promised land; you can do that by continuously hearing God’s voice.
- Obeying God’s instructions is what will get you to the promised land.
Isaiah 30:21 says: whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
God wants us to inherit everything He has planned for us, and for that, we ought to be obedient to His voice. We can know God’s voice by reading His words and spending time with Him in prayer. The Holy Spirit’s instructions come with peace.
Wait on God with joy and thanksgiving as you follow His directions and the wondering will stop because you will be following God’s perfect plan for your life.