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The wilderness way

Micah 2:13 “The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them,

and the LORD on the head of them.”

In the begining of the year we meditated on the experience of the Lord going before us. This year we will witness the Lord who goes before us and breaks all the

hindrances for our blessings. The Lord God will remove away everything which is stopping our blessings. When the Lord who is the king goes before us he will direct

our paths.

Exodus 13:18 'But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.'

As part of today's meditation we are going to meditate on the wilderness way. In the above passage, the Lord led his people through the way of wilderness. It represents

that he will go before us and leads us. Also he shows the way that we need to proceed. When the Lord guides us, we should follow him. It is our duty to obey to the word

of the Lord and we must follow him. In Exodus chapter 13 records the experience of Israelites being liberated from years of bondage. It was time where they were delivered

out of Egypt and the Lord speaks to them in verse 21. All these years their generations were in bondage. When they were delivered after years, the Lord went before them.

Initially, the people of Israelites might have thought their life is going to be a bed of roses after liberation. But the Lord had other plans. The way that the Lord

led them is through wilderness. The Lord is able to lead them in wilderness and bring them a prosperity. The Lord did not choose a path which was a scenic beauty for

the people of Israelites, but he chose a path of challenges. Today we are going to meditate how the way of wilderness will be when the Lord goes before us.

Different way

Exodus 13:17-18 'And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near;

for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the

Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.'

In the above passage, the Lord leads his people in a different way. The way the people of Israel expected to choose is a coastal way. The common knowledge is that the

roads are good and the distance is shorter. Also that coastal route is trade route which will help them to survive in their journey. There will be enough places to

get the food if they had chosen that way. We read in Proverbs 16:9 'A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.' We might have a lot of plans

and alternative ideas but the Lord will direct our paths. Eventhough we were led in the way of wilderness, he will direct our paths. When Moses led the people as per

the plan of the Lord, people might have said contrary things as to why this path was chosen instead of the coastal route. If they had chosen the coastal route they should

be going near the borders of the Lord where they might have faced the armies of Pharaoh. The people of Israel did not think about the dangers that are associated in the

coastal way. When we obey and follow the way of the Lord, the Lord will help us to reach safely. If the people of had chosen the coastal route, they might have missed

the miracle of red sea, the experience of manna, the experience of quail, the experience of waters from a rock, witnessing the bitter water being changed. All the

miracles in the wilderness would have been missed. When we follow the Lord God in our life of wilderness we will witness the miracles and the provision of the Lord God.

Preparing way

Exodus 13:17-18 'And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near;

for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the

Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.'

When we go through the way of wilderness, the Lord will prepare us. Only in the wilderness way the Lord will prepare and train his children. The way of wilderness is

not a curse but a blessing. In verse 17 we see the Lord gives a clarification on why he is leading in this way. Even in our lives, when we do not understand certain things

the Lord will answer and provide us explanations this year. In this passage, we read the Lord expects a preparation in the people of Israel before they inherit their

promised land. As the people were in bondage for long years, the Lord wanted them to prepare them completely before they inherit the blessings. Our Lord might

delay his blessings but he will grant his blessings at the right time when we are prepared. Even in the life of Jesus, he was taken into wilderness after baptism. Our

Lord Jesus himself was led into wilderness before his ministry. The Lord knew how the people of Israel would reach and will go back to captivity which is why he

prepared them to be led in the way of wilderness. Even today, when we follow him in the life of wilderness he will prepare us to face great challenges. If we need to

do greater things, we need to take up great challenges with the strength of the Lord. In verse 18, we see the people of Israel went out in an orderly fashion as conquerors.

Even in our lives, when we submit ourselves to the Lord we will be prepared in a divine way.

God led way

Exodus 13:21-22 'And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day

and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.'

In this passage we see the Lord went before his children. The way of wilderness can be different and it prepares us. But also it is a way where it was led by the Lord.

As recorded in this verse, the Lord led his people by pillar of cloud and fire. Bible scholars says the people of Israel literally witnessed and experienced the presence

of the Lord in their journey. The people experienced the pillar like presence of the Lord. The pillar led them not only in day but also in the night. Even in our lives

we the children of God will witness the guidance of the Lord day and night. The divine wisdom of the Lord when they have to start depart and halt. When we are confused

and worried the pillar of the Lord will speak to us and will guide us in our lives. Bible scholar says the pillar of cloud and fire led them in the same speed of the

people of the Israel. This year the Lord will lead us in the correct speed and measure. Secondly, the pillars gave them light. It gave them a clarity and a vision.

Thirdly, the pillar protected them. It protects them from wild animals in their journey, saved them from harsh weather conditions. We read in Exodus 14:9 'And the

angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:' In this

passage we read about a different experience. The pillar of the Lord stood behind them and protected them. The presence of protection was in front of them and

behind them. Even in our lives, the Lord will protect us from all sides. Let us not be worried in the life of wilderness, the Lord will send his pillars to protect us

round about. Amen.

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The wilderness way