Are you talking to God? Is He showing you the way? I’ve been asking myself these questions this week and the story of the Exodus came to me — that well-known trek into the desert Moses made with his fellow Israelites.
And lest you think this is dry reading, turn to those early chapters in the book of Exodus. You will rediscover that God went to great lengths not only to convince the Egyptians that the Israelites should be released from slavery, but that He was powerful, personal, believable. To prove the point, God made His presence obvious. He sent to Pharaoh and his people a series of horrific plagues that include the Nile River turning to blood; frog, gnat, locust and fly infestations; the death of enormous numbers of livestock; outbreaks of boils on people and animals; hail storms; and unexplained darkness.
When Pharaoh continued to deny their release, God brought death upon every Egyptian firstborn, whether man or beast, during one long, terrible night. Only then did Pharaoh finally release Moses and his people.
Pretty powerful stuff. Even brutal and terrifying. But rather than focusing on these astonishing plagues, perhaps the most interesting aspect of this account is the fact that Moses and his band of followers were willing to head into a desert with no map or plan, only the clear sense that God was with them and had worked mightily on their behalf.
I hold a burning desire to witness the hand of God in my life in real and practical ways; don’t you? I want to have a clear sense, a blessed assurance, that God is working and moving with the same intensity today.
Not only do I long to see evidence of God, but I long to be like Moses. I want to develop a heart that loves life yet loves the people in my life even more. I want God to build in me courage, knowing that He may not reveal every step needed, but will give me all I need little bits at a time. It all begins by simply thinking of Him and actively looking for evidence that He is present and working.
Author A. W. Tozer encourages us to “constantly practice the habit of inwardly gazing upon God.” He goes on to explain that “even when you are compelled to withdraw your conscious attention in order to engage in earthly affairs,” it is possible to experience within you a “secret communion always going on.”
What does a secret communion involve? It is nothing scary or mystical. It will be as wonderful as the name of a friend suddenly coming to mind, a prayer whispered with little thought, the lyrics of an encouraging song spontaneously springing forth as you drive in the car. It is having a surge of hope and insight. It’s seeing friends rallying around you, calling and visiting. It’s people going out of their way to encourage and build your spirits.
It is daring yourself to consider opportunities that terrify you one minute and thrill you the next. May we see God work in startling new ways this week, simply because we are looking.
