In the Desert

Where was Moses bringing the children of Israel when they left Egypt?

The normal response would be: The Promised Land

Yet that is not true. He as headed for Mount Horeb, or Sinai. Remember God's Words to Pharaoh, through Moses, "Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert." - Ex. 7:16 It was not "Let my people go, so that they can inherit a land."

Why would Moses take them to their promised land before first introducing them to the Promiser - the desire of the ages? If he first brought them ot the promised land they would end up loving the promises more than the Promiser, God Himself.

- Page 4, Drawing Near

Let us study Exodus 7:16 for a moment.
"Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert."

To summarise what happened back then, the Jews (God's chosen people) were in the bondage of slavery under the rule of Egypt which made them slaves under them. God wants to free them from that bondage.

Why free them?
"So that they may worship me..."

And one part we forgot to see is the last part of the verse "in the desert." It is not the Promised land, not the land filled with milk and honey but the desert. Of course God wants to bring them to the Promised land. But before that, he said to bring them to worship Him in the desert.

At the camp that we had been to, it was a high mountain experience like the one where a few apostles get to see Jesus transfigured to the Holy self he actually is. And like the apostles, we tend to think like them "Let us build tents and stay here.". But, no. We are not supposed to stay on the mountain forever, we are not supposed to dwell on the high mountain experience that we had been. It is, as it is called, an "experience". It serves as a wonderful memory of how great it felt being in God's presence, and also a lesson of how to enter the Holy of Holies - God's presence. It is not healthy to desire solely for the experience. We should seek God himself, the Giver of all gifts, The One whose presence which caused the experience. We should seek to grow and bear the fruits of the Spirit and not just wait for the next chance to experience another spiritual high in camps and motivational or revival talks.

Now that we know of the Holy Spirit and are being filled with Him, we know how to connect and get to God. God is now, in us as the person of the Holy Spirit and He will tell us what God wants to tell us and guide us to places God wants us to go and even feel what God feels. We commune with God through communion of the Holy Spirit. That's called living by the Spirit.

Being baptised/filled with the Holy Spirit is one thing. To have the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is another thing. And the result of being filled should be the bearing of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Manifestations like being slain and speaking in tongues and even feelings is one thing. The more important one is the bearing of these fruits because it is not only pleasing to God as they are characteristices of Jesus (which we are called to be like), but it serves as a great witness to others around us. Through bearing of these Fruit, others around us are able to see the change in you and that is a great witness to others. Others can see the result of the filling of the Holy Spirit.

It is okay and great to be slain, to speak in tongues and to experience all the "high" and it can be said as necessary also because it serves as an affirmation that God is real and powerful but then we are not to dwell on it and let our spiritual lives become a plateu, stopping all growth and pursuit in Christ just to wait for the next "spiritual high" experience. And like what's being said in Exodus 7:16 (paraphrased), we are freedfrom our bondages for the sole purpose - to worship God in the desert, which means the world outside the church, our daily lives in school and work and in the society where at times, it is dry and full of challenges and temptations. That is where our worship must persevere and our maintenance of freedom and burning of the fire should continue. "Perseverance produces character..." We should persevere through the hardships in life, worship God in all circumstances, acknowledging His presence and power in our lives and grow into the fullness which God wants us to be.

So for now, seek God with all our hearts, maintaining our freedom in Him through meditation on His Word and standing on His promises on our identity in Him and our power that is given by God :)