MY BACKWARDS JOURNEY Day 2

God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 is fleshed out in the rest of Genesis chapters 12-50.  The promise and the fulfillment is the story of the O.T. and the entire New Testament.  God reveals his ongoing redemptive story working out His purposes through the lives of Israel, the Patriarchs, His Son Jesus Christ, the Disciples, the Early Church, and in the lives of every person on the planet today.

“The promise” was to be kept in the minds of the People of God as they went on the journey to the Promise Land.   For Abram alone, the promise came 24 years before the arrival of his promised child, Isaac.  For Israel, the promise at times seemed impossible due to circumstances that surrounded them.  They often found themselves between “a rock and a hard place”.  Numerous times their provision showed up in the form of “mana”, not abundance.  While wandering in the desert (due to their sin) their shoes did not wear out, instead of God giving them new shoes.  God always provided, but His sovereign means was often a frustration for Israel and they became a complaining people.  They could not see the big picture of how God was testing and shaping them as He orchestrated their approach to the land He had promised.   

My present journey and the journey of our Church is full of God’s promises.  We must keep the promises on our hearts and not give up hope during times of struggle or testing.  I must embrace that God’s provision (even if it is through old shoes not wearing out instead of getting new) is something I must rejoice over and that His provision (plentiful or daily mana) is a means of His direction for my daily life and our Church.  He is faithful and always a good provider!  (even if it is not on my terms)