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Topic: Mountains (09/20/04)
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TITLE: Horeb Is Not That Horrible By Scott Reiman 09/24/04 |
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What a waste of time! Many of us have spent days, weeks, or even years in
situations and circumstances that seem to be a complete waste of time. According
to our interpretation of events, these experiences appear to add nothing to our
value to the Lord and His kingdom work. In fact, we believe these experiences
have limited our effectiveness for God and we become frustrated with this apparent
marginalization. What are we missing? What is the point of being in places that
seem to be the opposite of where we believe we belong?
The name Horeb means "waste" and brings up such word pictures as "a place
of desolation, dryness, decaying, and of destruction." What good can come out of
spending time in this barren piece of property? Well, two great prophets from the
Old Testament are linked directly to the lonliness of Mt. Horeb. They are Moses and
Elijah. These two great men of God came to experience the presence of Almighty
God in a personal and powerful way in this place of pain. It was on Mt. Horeb where
God first appeared to Moses in the burning bush and later he received the Ten
Commandments from this very mountain range. It was on Mt. Horeb that Elijah
lodged after being threatened by Jezebel, the ungodly queen. Here, in a state of
depression and hiding in a cave, God revealed His purposes to the weary prophet.
Both men, broken and bruised, found their place of "waste" a land of refreshing and
renewing.
Oftentimes we are ministering or laboring in areas that seem to be fruitless and a
complete waste of time. We believe our energy, talents, and giftings could be better
spent in a new location. We just know that "this place" is not what God has for us.
Yet it is often in places of dryness, despair, and defeat, that we can know the person
and purposes of God in a clear way. It is out of these barren stretches of time that we
emerge invigorated by the presence of the Lord. Yes, Horeb is a barren and difficult
terrain, but what better place to discover the refreshing nearness of the Lord. My
personal experience has been that during these times it is easy to want to give up or
give in to the surroundings. But somehow, God in all His mercy and grace, finds me
and breaks into the bleakness with His glorious presence. It is in Horeb that God's
presence comes nearer, His voice can become clearer, and His purposes will be
dearer. Horeb is not that horrible when we begin to understand that this is better
known as "the mountain of God." (Exodus 3:1; I Kings 19:8)
- Submitted by Scott T. Reiman 9/24/04 ([email protected])