“And the Lord spoke to me, saying: 'You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward’” (Deuteronomy 2:2-3).
Moses is recounting to the next generation of the children of Israel the events of the past 40 years of the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness. As he begins, Moses mentions what God had told their forefathers. Moses says, "The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain’” (Deuteronomy 1:6). It was time for them to leave the comfort of Mount Horeb and journey to the Promised Land.
As he moves along with his farewell speech to this next generation, Moses reminds them of the failures of their forefathers and their lack of faith in God. He particularly points out the failure following the spies bad report following their spying of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:19-46). As a result of this failure their punishment was to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
Now as Moses continues his farewell speech, he mentions what the Lord told the current generation of Israelites at the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God says the time for wandering was over. Now it is time to go and conquer the Promised land. The Lord say, “turn northward” (Deuteronomy 2:3)!
Do you ever feel like your wandering in a spiritual wilderness? I know at times I do. It is easy to get stuck in a spiritual rut. This is why were are admonished, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth’ (Colossians 3:1-2).
As Christians, it is important for us to “turn northward” and be about the work and mission that God has set before us and not fall into the trap of wandering in the wilderness. Today, I will celebrate God’s guidance and direction in my life and “turn northward” and be about doing His Work. Have a blessed day in service to Christ!
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).