Pivotal Years

Exodus 40:17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

A lot can happen in a year. Over the past few days, I have tried to sit back and reflect over the different joys, heartaches, challenges and tragedies that have filled 2007. I have tried to write some of them down, so I can go back and remember the great things that God has done. Many times, it is very easy to forget the blessings that God has given us and begin to complain when something difficult comes along. If we are in the right relationship with God, it will not matter what happens in 2008. We can be empowered by God to press on, learn lessons about life and grow closer to the One who holds eternity in His hands. As the first few days of 2008 pass, we are like Abraham who went out not knowing where He was going, yet He trusted God to provide and protect him and his family.

In the book of Exodus, I found a remarkable scripture that reminded me of what the Israelites did on the first day of the second year after being rescued from Egyptian bondage. In the previous year, God had heard their prayers and groaning by sending a deliverer to lead them out of slavery. Moses was commanded by God to go before Pharaoh and demand that His people be let go! Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and God began sending the plagues on Egypt to get the Pharaoh’s attention. It didn’t get to him until the last plague took the life of his first born son. The Israelites who were prepared to go, left Egypt with spoils, and followed the leadership of Moses. Where did it get them? They were standing before roadblock number one—the Red Sea. With the enemy closing in, God made a way where there seemed to be no way. Of course, the people of God praised Him for the great things he had done, yet a few days later, they complained about the bitter water at Marah. Then, the people were getting hungry, and God sent them manna. Later, they went to war against Amalek and God sent them victory. They spent three months travelling to Mount Sinai. While there Moses spent more than 80 nights on the mountain as he received the Law and instructions for building the tabernacle. Despite the awesome sight of God descending upon Mount Sinai with thunders, lightning and a thick cloud, the people still rebelled by making a golden calf. God was infuriated and ready to consume them, but Moses interceded on there behalf. Within the next six months, the people constructed the pieces of the tabernacle, and it was raised up on the first day of the second year.

With one year of miracles behind them, Moses was commanded by God to take a census in the book of Numbers and arrange the tribes around the central place of worship—the tabernacle. He numbered the men starting from age twenty and up who were able to go to war. With God’s presence with them, an army that was ready to march, and a promise that God was going to give them a land, it seemed that everything was going their way. However after seeing the obstacles that lied ahead, the children of Israel drowned out the two courageous spies and leadership of Moses and decided not to walk in faith and possess the land that God had promised. They forfeited God’s blessings and wasted many precious years, because they were not willing to obey the word of the Lord.

Wasted time can never be bought back. It is gone. Do you realize that 2008 may be a pivotal year for you? There will be obstacles to overcome. God does not want us to retreat but remember His faithfulness, center your life in Him, and walk by faith and not by sight. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Be courageous and faithful in 2008!