I'm headed to Houston with a friend for our denomination's national general conference. We both love road trips, and she's a pro with a road atlas. Some friends prefer GPS, but a road atlas doesn't require a signal.
During the trip, I started talking about the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. "They would not listen to God," my friend said. "That's why I pray, God, help me to hear You. Help me to listen and obey."
This prayer was spoken when we were having a conversation about the Israelites and their 40-year stint in the wilderness. There was a much shorter, direct route to the Promised Land from Egypt than the direction they went.
Why the delay? God had some things to work on with the Israelites. He got them out of Egypt, but now He had to work on getting Egypt out of them. Having been through the Red Sea, eaten food directly from heaven, and drinking water from a rock, what does He find them doing in Moses' absence? Worshiping a golden calf! Say what??
Not only did God need to get Egypt of out of them, He had to put something new in its place. He had to show them His faithfulness and get up close and personal so that they could see Him for who He really was and be unable to do anything other than worship Him.
Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it took 40 years. That's why my friend was asking God to help her listen AND obey. "If I don't do both, I might end up on some circuitous routes that I could have avoided altogether had I just done as He said."
To walk in His way, we need to stay tune in to His direction, His leading. And not just tuned in, but obedient as well. How's your signal?
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