Wandering, But Not Lost

The nation of Israel lived in exile for many years. After being freed from Egypt by Moses and wandering the desert, I can’t help but think they probably hadn’t planned on living in exile ever again. Sadly for them, that wasn’t in the cards.

Now, as much as I can look at the history and think that these people should have done better, they should have known better, I think it’s probably better that I don’t. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have a pretty short attention span. Sometimes my patience wears thin and I become easily distracted. I can only imagine how difficult it would have been for the Israelites to not begin to assimilate into the culture in which they found themselves living. I mean, we do it, don’t we?

So this is as important for us to hear as it must have been for the Israelites. The promise is that no matter how scattered and distracted we become, God will bring us back. In God’s world, you might get lost, you might live in Babylon, you might even wander a desert for 40 years, but there’s no such thing as being lost forever.

Seeking God, reach out your arms and lead us back to you, today and always. Amen. — JEM