The Land of In-Between (Part 1)

When Moses under God’s direction was leading the Israelites out of captivity they eventually ran out of their own provisions. The supply of food they were used to eating back in Egypt was consumed and now here they were in the desert with nothing. There was no market around the next sand dune where they could buy food, even though they had plenty of money – the wealth of Egypt in their pockets. What had become familiar to them was gone. They didn’t know what the land they were going to would be like. All they knew was that here they were in the desert, in between where they came from and where they were going, and they were hungry, confused and afraid. This turned to anger, anger towards God’s chosen leader Moses, and before too long anger towards God.

God had a plan all along. He knew that the way to the next thing He had on the agenda for them passed through a desert. He knew they would run out of their own provisions, all the worldly things they were counting on. Surely they knew after seeing how He had delivered them from the land of bondage that He would continue to look after them now! How quickly they forgot the awesome display of His power. How could they have thought that God would leave them now and let them starve in the desert? Could it be that they knew about Him but they didn’t know Him? Or if they knew Him, they didn’t know Him well enough? God wanted them to know Him. He knew they needed to know Him, not just about Him. He was their Father. He had a plan, a plan for good and not for evil; a plan to prosper them, not to harm them. This part of the journey was a part of that plan.

No, God did not let them starve. He fed them, miraculously, there in the desert. They called it Manna (Exodus 16). It was bread that fell from heaven. Not too much, not too little – just what they needed each day to keep them going from the Land of In-Between to the land of promise.

If you have time today, read this over again and make a note of what comes to mind. It could be that Father has something to say to you.

Part 2 tomorrow…