'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:4, ESV

 

No matter how far we journey with God, there will always be challenges to overcome, mountains to climb, storms to endure and battles – within and without – because life will always be complex, and this is how he tests us.

 

To only believe is not enough; it is only when we put faith into action and keep our eyes fixed on God that we see how intimately he cares for us, and how faithfully he keeps us. Then our relationship with him grows. But when we take him for granted, we are blind to this, and we lose out on the blessing of his company.

 

Sometimes the way God answers our prayers is not comfortable. When the people of Israel were in bondage in Egypt, they could never have envisaged how God would answer their cry to be freed, nor grasped that once free, they would still be required, so often, to pray, take courage, and step out in faith and trust. From beginning to end it required discipline.

 

Their escape was meticulously orchestrated, and Moses’ instructions had to be followed precisely for them all to leave in their droves. Even freedom, when it comes from God, requires our co-operation – obedience in the small details, not just gratitude for the outcome. The wilderness was tough, but God was in control throughout – there was nothing they lacked the whole way through, and their clothes and sandals never wore out. (Deuteronomy 29:5)

 

But even more remarkable than these miracles – clothes, food and water – they literally saw God leading them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, and he spoke to them in words of love and taught them his ways.

 

He defeated their captors, carried them on eagles’ wings, and made them promises: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' ” (Exodus 19:5-6a)

 

What fate has God delivered you from?

 

We sometimes feel that we are in bondage in Egypt, or lost in the wilderness – and yet we are encouraged when we turn our faces to God, knowing that he is strong, and that he carries us “on eagles’ wings”.

 

Often it’s only after a tumultuous time that we look back and realise he carried us through it all. His covenant and promises are for us too, as we obey his voice and keep faith with him, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Prayer: Faithful Father, thank you that you carry us, just as you carried your people of old. Teach us to trust you in the wilderness, to keep our eyes fixed on you, and to obey your voice, so that we may know the fullness of your covenant love. In Jesus’ name, Amen

 

 

 

Dit maak nie saak hoe lank ons reeds met God onderweg is nie, daar sal altyd uitdagings wees om te oorkom, berge om te klim, storms om te verduur en gevegte – intern en ekstern – omdat die lewe kompleks is en dit is hoe Hy ons toets.

 

Om net te glo, is nie genoeg nie. Dit is slegs wanneer ons geloof tot aksie oorgaan en ons ons oë op God gerig hou dat ons kan sien hoe Hy vir ons sorg, en hoe getrou Hy ons onderhou. Dan groei ons verhouding met Hom. Maar wanneer ons Hom net as vanselfsprekend aanvaar, is ons blind hiervoor en verloor ons die seën van sy teenwoordigheid.

 

Soms is ons nie gemaklik met die manier waarop God ons gebede verhoor nie. Toe die Israeliete in slawerny in Egipte was, kon hulle nie voorsien het hoe God hulle gebede om bevry te word, sou antwoord nie. Hulle het ook nie besef dat na hulle bevryding daar steeds dikwels van hulle verwag sou word om te bid, moed te skep en in geloof en vertroue na vore te tree nie. Van begin tot einde het dit dissipline geverg.

 

Hulle ontvlugting was fyn beplan, en Moses se instruksies moes presies gevolg word sodat hulle in hulle groot getalle kon vertrek. Selfs vryheid, al kom dit van God, verlang ons samewerking – gehoorsaamheid in die kleinste detail, nie net dankbaarheid vir die uitkoms nie. Die woestyn was moeilik, maar God was regdeur in beheer – hulle het al die pad niks kortgekom nie, en hulle klere en sandale het nie verslyt nie. (Deuteronomium 29:5)

 

Merkwaardiger as hierdie wonderwerke – klere, kos en water – het hulle letterlik gesien hoe God hulle lei, deur 'n wolk in die dag en deur vuur in die nag. Hy het met hulle gepraat in woorde van liefde en hulle sy weë geleer.

 

Hy het hulle gevangenemers verslaan en hulle op arendsvlerke gedra en beloftes aan hulle gemaak: "As julle dan nou getrou luister na my stem en my verbond nakom, dan sal julle onder al die volke my persoonlike eiendom wees, al behoort die hele aarde aan My. Vir My sal julle 'n koninkryk van priesters en 'n heilige nasie wees.’ " (Eksodus 19:5-6a)

 

Van watter lot het God jou gered?

 

Ons voel soms of ons slawe in Egipte is, of verlore in die woestyn – en tog kan ons moed skep wanneer ons na Hom draai en besef dat Hy sterk is en ons op "arendsvlerke" dra.

 

Dit is dikwels egter eers na 'n moeilike tyd dat ons terugkyk en besef dat Hy ons deur dit alles gedra het. Sy verbond en beloftes is ook vir ons as ons in geloof deur Jesus Christus, ons Here, sy stem gehoorsaam.

 

Gebed: Getroue Vader, dankie dat U ons dra, net soos U u volk van ouds gedra het. Leer ons om U in die woestyn te vertrou, ons oë op U gerig te hou en u stem te gehoorsaam sodat ons u verbondsliefde volkome kan ken. In Jesus se Naam. Amen