The Dusty Trail
Last week we had a great hike outside of Crouch, Idaho. The scenery was fantastic. The climb was quite aggressive. We hiked a few hours and had a great time.
Do you enjoy going for a hike? Have you spent time on the dusty trail? Your hiking history provides a special link to your spiritual ancestors. The Israelites’ hike was longer than a few hours—it lasted 40 years! The reason for the extended hike was faithlessness. The people were too scared to take hold of the land God himself had promised to them.
Yet the extended hike was a continuous display of God’s grace and love. Each step was filled with a fresh experience of God’s generous love. God’s mercies are new every morning. Consider Nehemiah’s summary of the extended hike of God’s people before they finally went into the Promised Land:
“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feed become swollen.”
God took care of his people, even under such trying and difficult circumstances. When it would be easy to become focused on what they did not have, God’s people lacked nothing. God kept his people going on that long, dusty trail.
Has your life hike shown you anything different? Whose hike hasn’t become more difficult because of spiritual stumbles, stubbed toes, and senseless short-cuts? Our failings betray the sin in which we were born and with which we will struggle until our trail reaches the summit. Yet Jesus walked in our sandals; living life, fulfilling his Father’s demands, suffering, dying and rising again so that our life trail will never truly end. Where there was no bridge, Jesus became the bridge so that our trail will lead us to the heavenly summit of God’s presence.
Until that step upon the summit of paradise, we hike on. We depend on our Guide for direction, and all that we need on the trail of this life. We are comforted in our stumbles knowing forgiveness is ours through Jesus alone. We help others, as Isaiah says “strengthening weak knees and hearts that give way.” Know, dear sister, dear brother, that you do not hike alone. Jesus, your Guide is with you. Please also do not discount your fellow hikers—a wonderful opportunity for us to encourage one another. God is with you and will be with you every step of the way, on your hike home.
Prayer idea: Ask God for strength for the journey. Ask God for opportunities to encourage someone else this week. Praise God for saving you.
Have a blessed week!
--Pastor Dan
"It was then that I carried you."