Getting Nowhere

Deuteronomy 2:1-3 English Standard Version

“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward

The first lesson to be learned here is to follow the last command of the Lord until directed otherwise.

The second is to know that God knows when traveling in circles has accomplished in us all that God deems necessary. We might not understand the purpose for this seemingly repetitive cycle of living but God knowns what is required even if we do not.

Thirdly and most importantly, be faithful in what God has asked of us and new marching orders will come.

When our unit first came to Vietnam we were ordered to walk through muddy rice paddies with no goal except to continue to keep walking. We did not understand why until after we no longer needed to repeat the exercise. It was to condition our bodies to endure the conditions and become stronger. As time passed troops died and were replaced. Those that came from the states did not gain the benefit of that training and they suffered because of it.

What God asks of us in obedience of faith is meant for our good, even if at the time we do not understand it. I remember the lessons of Vietnam and found one example which I could use over the years. “Stop complaining and keep going.”

Whining about out circumstances requires us to stop forward progress. Faithfulness understands that and keeps moving until given further orders.

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