Happy Valentine's Day, my friends. I feel compelled to send a gift, one like the Book of Deuteronomy, which was originally given to the Jewish people about their travels while looking to find their Promised Land. I don't have a book to send you, but rather some thoughts from the study portion of my bible regarding this famous book. I would like to include, too, a few short sentences from another book, the novel called THE SOURCE, by James Michener, written decades ago. Each tells us the advantage of "going through the desert."
No one likes to live totally in the desert forever. Living in Arizona for many years, we found the desert to be beautiful in its own right, and we were happy with our life there. But, we missed our family and the change of seasons. We preferred to get old closer to where we were born, and surround ourselves with family.
Now, about the Israelites, we must remember that they had never known the desert. Born and raised in Egypt for centuries before, they had quite an adjustment to make in experiencing the heat, the dryness, the desolation, and the lack of water and food. It doesn't surprise me that they grumbled! Yet, there is a mystique about the desert that is wholly good. There is a sense of aloneness which says, "I'm in this alone and I must do it or die. It's just me and you, God, and I can't always find you!" Have you ever experienced this? It would surprise me, if you had not.
But, of course, we are not alone. Even if our count is only "one," none are alone, as the spirit of the Lord is always there, only a whisper and a belief away. Is it too presumptuous of me to be truly certain of this? I don't think so.
For the book, THE SOURCE, Michener, studied the life and mind of the Jewish man, and the book of Deuteronomy, which implies the Jew's strength of purpose at their new independence so many years ago now came from the peace and consolation known amidst the sweep and challenge of the desert. This is not an exact quote, but the meaning is there. God could be heard in the sighing of the wind as it blew across the sand. The novel repeatedly reminded the reader that God can't be forgotten in the desert where they lived so close to Him.
THE SOURCE also reacted to the callousness of the Israelites when they tired of hearing rules and regulations from God, when God was to have said, "You are free to ignore my commands, but I will grow impatient and will speak to others." Listen and obey, or I'm outta here! God also added, " Listen to me in the desert. Hearing is much easier than trying to be heard when you are within walls. Yet I will be there, also."
As tiresome as they were, the rules and laws of the commandments were given by God to keep the Israelites from self-destruction, and they are still of use to us for the same reason in these days. They are for our own good.
Our world today is not so different from the Old Testament days. We each seek our own place with God. We each want our lives for ourselves and our families to be without fear and harm. We want safety. We don't expect perfection, but hope for tranquility. We want something good for our children and their children. And we hope against hope that the world will let us have these things. And when we realize that finding God is first among us, we are quieted somewhat from our fears. And today? Today we have the New Testament which brings us the Spirit again, in a new and different form, the man of the Cross. He hears. From wherever we call, he hears.
Thanks for listening.
Seriously,
Jo INMN
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