Between Elim And Sinai!

We may focus on moments and places of blessing in our journey through life, but what marks the occurrences in between? Is God and His provision sometimes forgotten along the way?

As God lead Israel on the journey from Egyptian captivity toward the promised land, Elim was a place where Israel encamped by twelve springs of water and found refreshment. ( Exodus 15:27) The journey was to then move on toward Sinai; a glorious meeting place with God where the people were to worship and Moses would receive the Law of God to be delivered to the people. In Exodus chapter 16 we find a reference to a place described as being between Elim and Sinai.

We read…
“(1) They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the WILDERNESS OF SIN, which is BETWEEN ELIM AND SINAI, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. (2) And THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL GRUMBLED AGAINST MOSES AND AARON in the wilderness, (3) and the people of Israel said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’” ( Exodus 16:1-3 ESV)

WILDERNESS OF SIN! This was the name of the place, not a description of what took place in the region. However, we might think it a fitting name considering Israel’s lack of trust in God once again being displayed.

Perhaps we have wondered if an appropriate name for the realm in which we live might be “WILDERNESS OF SIN”. For many their life has become a desert, a wasteland, a void, a place of wandering with disregard for God and the wisdom of His Will. The room for grumbling is not because God is unwilling to lead and provide, but because people have removed themselves from the sphere of His blessings, separating themselves from Him by their sins.

Note the desire expressed by the psalmist David.
“(23) Search me, O God, and KNOW MY HEART! Try me and know my thoughts! (24) And see if there be any grievous way in me, and LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING!” ( Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

Life needs to be lived with a heart properly focused toward God. We can trust Him to lead us from wherever we are to where He desires us to be. May our life reflect the wisdom of following God and His Ways so that others might recognize the WILDERNESS OF SIN in which they are presently wandering and turn their hearts toward God. There is an eternal promised land to which He desires to lead all humanity.

Have a great day WALKING WORTHY OF BEING FOLLOWED!
Carl

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