Psalms 12:6 NKJV - The words of the Lord(YHVH) are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.
From Abraham’s journey on through to Joseph’s enslavement at the hands of his brothers, the Father has been busy setting the stage for the next part of His big reveal. So, when we read about The 40 year hike across the country that the children of Israel had to make; it becomes clear, its not YHVH testing them but revealing to them where their priorities are.
Mark 4:13-17 NKJV - And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
The thing about trials isn’t the trial itself, but rather where our heads are while we are going through them. When we read the Word for ourselves, and step into Jesus’s shoes of service to one another; then the attachments to this world will become lighter.
James 1:2-4 NKJV - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The Journey always comes before the destination! We are tried in the furnace of life with the hope of coming out of the other side, while trying not to smell like smoke or have our hairs singed from the heat of life’s trials.
Genesis 50:15-21 NKJV - When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God (Elohim) of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God(YHVH)? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God(YHVH) meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Abraham obeyed, Isaac obeyed, Jacob obeyed, and above Joseph obeyed. Will you obey?
Deuteronomy 8:1-2 NKJV - “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord(YHVH) swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the Lord(YHVH) your God (Elohim) led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
Yes, It is that simple, “the righteous will live by faith”.
James 1:12 NKJV - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord(YHVH) has promised to those who love Him.
Reflection:
“Our uprising is against a cultural mind-set that twists the purpose and potential of the teen years and threatens to cripple our generation. Our uprising won’t be marked by mass riots and violence, but by millions of individual teens quietly choosing to turn the low expectations of our culture upside down.”
“…Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.”
By Alex Harris, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations
Ezekiel 36:27 NKJV - I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.