Familiar Mountains
Some of us will know the story of the wilderness in the Old Testament.
Moses and the Israelites in the desert taking 40 years to make an 11 day journey.
The story is told in Deuteronomy 1:1-8, and there’s a line there that really stood out for me as I read it yesterday.
The Lord our God said to us … “You have stayed long enough at this mountain” 1:6.
“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
God’s desire for them is to “Go in and take possession of the land” 1:8 but as long as they were stuck at this mountain, they would not be able to grasp hold of what God had promised. The land He had planned for them, “a good and large land … a land flowing with milk and honey” Exodus 3:8.
What is the “land” that God has promised you?
A restored and peaceful marriage; the salvation of your spouse or son or daughter; for an exciting ministry to be birthed; healing from illness?
Do you find yourself striding confidently towards this land, or like me, do you find yourself relating to the Israelites? With a mountain getting in the way; a mountain that has been “stayed long enough at”?
There are some areas in my life where I’d like to grow in Christ-likeness. I read this word from God to His people, and I realised it was true for me too. That for too long I’ve been at certain “mountains.” So long that the landscape is very familiar. I’ve acclimatised, with the vision of the land God has promised growing dim. I’ve realised that I’ve settled in subtle ways, growing comfortable with a place that was never meant to be my final destination.
And so I asked God today to restore to me a vision of the land He has for me. A good and large land. Realising that I’ve stayed long enough at my mountain.
*Photo of Brandwacht Mountains, South Africa by Birgit Whelan.
That is a good prayer.
excellent post!!! :)
Thanks @ngie, I’m excited about how God is going to reply :)
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Yay, hi Randi, lovely to see you and your new site! That’s great! God bless :)
During my first year of bible school I was pretty hard on the Israelites but by my seoond year I realized that I was more like them then I would have ever imagined. I guess I used to expect God to move the mountain and all the while He expected me to start walking first. I can still be like them – stiff-necked and all – but I am definitely growing and that is the most important thing. :)
Really great post Birgit. God has been speaking to me about pushing through circumstances to get the victory, through faith and not wallowing in fear and self-pity but believing His promises just like you say. Thanks
Hi Hope, Thanks for your thoughts on this. Yeah, sometimes I try and picture it – forty years in the wilderness. That’s a long time, longer than I’ve been alive :). Then when you think that the journey was eleven days, it really drives home the point that it’s so easy to get to stuck doesn’t it? Like you were saying, at first I didn’t quite understand, but like you, now I see how much I relate. I’ve already wasted a lot of time in my own ‘deserts’ and am so thankful for God encouraging me to walk on. Thanks for your insights :)
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Hi rg, thanks so much, and for sharing about what God is speaking to you about at the moment. I really want to grow in that too – really trusting in His promises, gorwing in my faith. Thanks for this, God bless :)
Tha