Accept What He Is Teaching You

July/August 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Accept What He Is Teaching You

The Old Testament gives many types , showing aspects of our Christian walk. For example, Exodus begins by picturing our condition as slaves under one who has no regard for God (consider 1:8). In that condition, we had become entangled in the affairs of the world and its desires (vv.11-14). But God, who chose us before the foundation of the world, had His eyes on us (Eph. 1:4; Ex. 2:24-25).

The freeing of His earthly people from their slavery in Egypt came through Moses, a deliverer chosen by God (Ex. 3). For us, it is the Lord Jesus, who at the right time came into this world to save us from sins (Gal. 4:3-4; Mt. 1:21). His work on the cross also destroyed the Devil, crushing his head (Heb. 2:14; Gen. 3:15). The fullness of this will be realized in a coming day (Rev. 20:10), but the victory has already been won (1 Cor. 15:57)! Through that one work, we have been saved through the blood of the Lamb, and set free from the slavery to sin (Ex. 12; Jn. 1:29; Rom. 6:5-11)!

Practically, like many of the Israelites traveling through the wilderness, we struggle. Losing sense for a moment, we may not treat the Lord in a manner befitting His holiness (Num. 20:7-12). We complain about what He has provided – even what should draw us to Him – and want to replace it with what we had before we were saved (Ex. 16; Num. 11:4-8; Jn. 6:29-58). We disobey and go our own way (Num. 14). There are times we prefer what we can see rather than simply trusting Him who is unseen (Ex. 32). Our faith at times is small, and we stumble, following in the character of that from which we have been delivered. The Father then, in His love, corrects us (Heb. 12:3-11).

In the course of all that took place in those days of old, Joshua was one who remained faithful for the LORD (Num. 14:6-10). Of course, he failed too (Josh. 9), for he was a person just like us. However, the desires of his heart were to be in the LORD’s presence and for his whole household and the entire nation to serve the LORD (Ex. 33:11; Josh. 24:14-15).

The Lord works through His willing and faithful servants, as He did through Moses and Joshua, for His glory and the blessing of others. May we consider the examples God has placed before us in His Word and apply to our lives the lessons He teaches. He knows what we still need to learn!

By Paul Alberts