In Abundance and Drought – Devotional

I’ve been reading lately in the book of Numbers about the children of Israel’s journeyings through the wilderness. If you have read your Bible for any length of time, you most likely have read the amazing miracles God worked for them on a daily basis. In Numbers 33, it records a multitude of times they moved. Oh, can I sympathize with all those ladies packing up their belongings time after time! 🙂

As I was reading this chapter, I came down to verse 9 which says, “And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.” 

Wow! What abundance of provision – twelve fountains of water! They were living with abundance of provision here.

But then it was time to leave and it wasn’t too many verses later, verse 14 to be exact, before it is recorded, “And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.” Now we see that they are in a place of drought. No doubt they wondered, maybe even aloud, “Why here?”

But, we can ask what kept them journeying even when the circumstances around didn’t seem favourable?  Remember, they weren’t just following their feelings or the circumstantial evidence. They were being supernaturally lead by the LORD!

Exodus 13:21-22 says, “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: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”

In answer to the question we addressed earlier, I believe they were assured of God’s leading; therefore, they didn’t have to fear what they would face. God’s presence was with them. Their Jehovah Jirah (Provider) was leading them!

In application, we don’t have to live in fear when we experience unpleasant circumstances. Nor should we question God’s love for us during those times. Instead we should look up to our Father with childlike faith in HIs abundance, and trust His leading at ALL TIMES. As children of God, may we arise to faithfulness in our relationship to God no matter what we are going through: for we are assured of His presence.

Hebrews 13:5-6 says, “...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

I would love to hear any comments or further insight you would like to share. Please comment here on the website or email me at joanna@hopeforthehome.net.