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The Desert


A few years ago when we went to Israel, I was fascinated by the Negev desert. When planning the trip I had anticipated seeing places like Via Dolorosa, The Garden Tomb, The Galilee, basically walking in the footsteps of Jesus. However if you ask me which place made the most impact on me – I would have to say the desert. In my mind, I had not visualised what I actually saw – miles and miles of harsh, mountainous terrain. When we stood on Mount Nebo and I looked across, I realised that only God could use this kind of land. With all the modern inventions, man can barely build roads through this wilderness. Of course this was where Jesus walked too. The nation of Israel wandered through the desert for 40 years. If you do a keyword search in http://www.biblegateway.com/ there are numerous references to the desert in the Bible.
And this is where I find myself once again – the desert of my life.
In these days, I have been drawn to the prophet Elijah. As I study the life of this prophet, some of the lessons that strike me are that when God was preparing Elijah for the big miracle, He first sent him to the wilderness. "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." 1 Kings 17: 3-4. The Bible tells us that Elijah did as the Lord told him. Total and immediate obedience. Elijah knew His God and knew to obey. With the predicted drought, the brook dried up and again the Lord directed him to go to a widow, who had barely any food for herself and her son. God used the most unlikely means to feed him. Ravens – unclean scavenging birds and a poor widow.
Yes God is sending me daily sustenance. And believe me I need it daily. The desert is not an easy place to live in. For an extreme extrovert like myself, it is very lonely. It is stifling and boring. I want the noise of the crowds, to drown out any silence. I can't bear silences even in conversations! The picture on the side bar, taken by me in Israel portrays my life so well.
I go back to Elijah. When in desperation he called out to the Lord, "I have had enough, LORD," 1 Kings 19:4, God took him on another journey. All along we are told that God provided – Elijah was never wanting for food and drink. As he waited for a message from God, first came a great wind, then an earthquake and then a fire, but God was not in any one of these. God's message came in a 'gentle whisper.'
Now I know why the desert is such a quiet place for me. I have to hear the 'gentle whisper' and I will not hear it unless I walk away from the noise and 'be still.' I am waiting, Lord.

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