Words within parenthesis ( ) are interpretations that the Lord gave to me. Is 1:19 NKJV If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land Imagine that you are walking in a crowd of your peers. There is no end to the number of people around you. You are carrying all that you own, and you have no idea where you are going. You're just walking, and walking. You are leaving behind a place that you have known all your life. You are now free from slavery, but you wonder if you ever should have left on this journey. Finally, everyone stops to set up camp. You feed your family and tend to your animals. You look up and see an army coming after you...! This is the kind of shock that the Israelites experienced in Exodus 14. They were finally released by Pharaoh only to have him come after them. Satan also uses this method with Christians. As soon as we leave behind the things that are keeping us from getting closer to Christ, Satan regrets ever having let us go (even though he didn't have a choice). Then he (Satan) comes after us with the biggest army that he can find. His army consists of strife, financial difficulties, illnesses, addictions, lusts, past failures, unworthiness, depression, jealousies, betrayals, unfair circumstances, etc. However, Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV reads: 13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians (things that Satan sends to keep you from getting closer to God) whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." When you see Satan coming after you with all that he's got, you can be at peace. Why? Because God has got your back. You don't have to focus on what you left behind, or on what is coming after you. Only focus on what's ahead! So let's continue our story. You look up and see an army coming after you. You look forward and see nothing but an endless sea! Your options appear to be: wait for the enemy to capture and kill you or die trying to cross the sea. No pressure, right! But God just said that He will take care of your enemies. So how do you go forward? Ex 14:15-16, 21-22 NKJV reads: 15 And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But lift up your rod (faith), and stretch out your hand (obedience) over the sea (obstacles that try to keep you from getting closer to God) and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. So behind you are things trying to keep you from getting to God, and (guess what) in front of you are even more things that are trying to keep you from getting to God. The key word is trying. God said that if you are willing and obedient (Is 1:19) then you WILL eat the good of the land. Well you have to make it to the land to eat the good of it! Lift up your faith and be obedient (Ex 14:16) and watch God divide those obstacles right in front of you! He will hold them back for as long as you need him too. They can't even touch you. Even better than that, He will use them to destroy the enemy's army that is behind you! Ex 14:27-28 NKJV reads: 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians (things that Satan sends to keep you from getting closer to God) were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharoah (Satan) that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. God's got your back, and He has paved a path for you that boldly tells the devil that he can't touch this! This one's mine! "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8: 28). Rejoice, Child of God! Rejoice, I say, in the Lord! I hope you enjoyed reading the word of God in a new light! Have a Happy Wednesday! God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray |
| Can't Touch This, Devil! Mar. 24, 2004 |