The pursuit of God

Then they remembered those days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They cried out, “Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people? Where is the one whose power was displayed when Moses lifted up his hand—the one who divided the sea before them, making himself famous forever? Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea? They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling. As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. You led your people, Lord, and gained a magnificent reputation. Isaiah 63:11-14 NLT

Oftentimes, God’s goodness is met with rejection. This is what happened to the Israelites according to Isaiah from the text. The Spirit whom God gave them was grieved and instead of experiencing rest, their life was characterized with turmoil and hostilities. We cannot blame circumstances as to the reason why we get knocked down. The problem is not with the surrounding forces but us. We failed to embrace the love of God. The question Isaiah asked twice “Where is the one” in verse 11 is the question raised by every generation. This is the question worth finding answer for it will determine who we trust in life. This question comes out when we find ourselves needing an ally, helpless, full of doubts, or guilty. We need to find the answer to this question for nothing else will matter. We have to look beyond ourselves and our fears. God came to lead us so we will not stumble in life. By leading us, He makes His name known and His glory. This is what the Israelites experienced in the past. Now in our time, do you experience God at work? Just like in the story of the prodigal son (see Luke 15), while we are still a long way off but, on our way to express our repentance, we realize that God is waiting to give us His warm embrace. This is who God is. In our search of Him, we realize when we find Him that it was Him who has been pursuing us with His grace, forgiveness, and love. “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17).

Blessings,