And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. II Peter 1:19
Last night I had the opportunity finally to see the first episode of the new series, The Bible on The History Channel. It was exciting to see the Bible come to life and get more of a sense of human emotion as God stirred the hearts of His people. It was very dramatic — yet still, it was perhaps nothing compared to the actual events.
In one particular scene I noticed something that had not occurred to me otherwise in reading of this account. The excitement and energy of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry ground has, as for many, been a moment of intrigue for me. Imagining a wall of water on either side being held back by nothing but the strength of God himself is for me, a more than remarkable event. But in this particular episode, I noticed the people grabbing torches to use for light as they journeyed quickly to the other side. It never occurred to me that the walls of water might be so high as to block the daylight. And as they reached the other side, it was as bright as noon.
I can only imagine what the Israelites must have felt while in the middle of the Red Sea, walking a dry bed. Frightened. Worried. Confined. Limited. Uneasy. Scared. Curious. Amazed. Doubtful. Confused. Who could blame them? They were just led into a very dark place!
For me, this dark place is called a pit. I could spend a few days on my thoughts about the life and way of the pit, but for now, the measure of the journey is most important. In the lives of so many, unlike the Israelites, the journey ends somewhere in the middle of the Red Sea. Pitching a tent and making the pit feel like home. Let me just say, there’s no place like home and the pit is not it!
It’s all about the journey, because, like the Israelites, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — my and your God, lifts me, leads me, guides me, teaches me to finish the journey. He wants me to learn, forgive and love, and experience His life on solid ground!
Grab The Torch and journey through that dark place called pit!
Lord Jesus, I give you thanks for giving me your Light of Truth to guide me and teach me! Your deliverance from my pits I’ve called home far too long is truly a celebration — a homecoming! May I continue in my journey bearing witness to your hand as I learn to have eyes for you!
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. II Samuel 22:29-30