“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
Deuteronomy 1:6
Over the past months, a difficult decision had to be made. Much time was spent in God’s Word and in prayer, many tears were shed. My sweet husband provided great encouragement, godly counsel, and support. Once the decision was made, all the anxiety, upset, and stress fell away. My spirit was at peace. I was certain that I had been obedient to God’s leading.
In the last couple of weeks, during conversations with long-time friends and confronted by other reminders of things left behind, I started to second-guess myself. Did I misunderstand God’s leading? Did I allow myself to get in the way of hearing God’s voice clearly? Like garden weeds, little questions of doubt began to sprout.
Thankfully, my loving Father did not allow me to stray too far down the dangerous path of uncertainty.
While reading in the book of Deuteronomy – passages that I’ve read numerous times – verses that were underlined during past reflections – the words seemed to jump off the page with new emphasis and clarity. God’s message to the Children of Israel spoken through Moses, now spoke directly to my heart:
“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.
Turn and take your journey.
See, I have set the land before you.
Go in and take possession of the land….”
Deuteronomy 1:6, 8
And in case I didn’t get the message of the first chapter clearly, in chapter two, I read:
“You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough.
He knows your going through this great wilderness.
These forty years the LORD your God has been with you.
You have lacked nothing.”
Deuteronomy 2:3, 7b
God’s message to Israel was this, the forty years of punishment and preparation was over. It was time to move on and into the Land of Promise.
Forty years of punishment.
- The punishment for disobedience and lack of faith in refusing to enter the promised land was complete, the generation of unbelievers had all died in the wilderness.
Forty years of preparation.
- God had given His Law and commandments instructing His chosen people how they were to live holy and set apart lives that would honor and bring glory to God.
- The Tabernacle and the Ark of Covenant had been built as a dwelling place for the presence of God, and as a place of sacrifice and worship for the people.
Forty years of proving His faithful protection against disease, fiery serpents, enemies’ attacks, and enemies’ curses.
Forty years of faithful provision – manna, meat, water, supplies, and clothing.
Forty years of living with the presence of God visibly leading Israel – a cloud by day and a fire by night.
Forty years. Enough. It was time to move on. Time to claim the promise of plenty.
Here’s what I have taken from these passages.
- God fully knows the specifics of my situation, just as He knows the details of your circumstances. He knew the challenges faced by His children in the wilderness, He knows our challenges as well. (Deuteronomy 2:7b)
- God has proven faithful to provide and sustain in the past; He will be faithful in the future. (Deuteronomy 2:7c)
- When one season of service is complete, God will have another assignment, a new opportunity, a different ministry, or another type of service, prepared and waiting. (Deuteronomy 1:8)
- God calls us to obedience and to act on His instructions to move on to what He has prepared for us to do. (Deuteronomy 1:8)
After forty years, it was time for the Israelites to move on from the wilderness to the Promised Land. God’s people were leaving the hardships of the wilderness for the blessings of Canaan. If you are familiar with the history of Israel, you know that blessings were not the only things that lay in store for Israel in the Land of Promise.
There would be battles.
And there would be astounding, God-fought, and God-delivered victories.
Forty years in the desert had prepared Israel to move on in obedience to follow God into a new season of blessings, battles, and victories.
Wherever you may be in your spiritual journey – emerging from a time of discipline, restoration, or renewal, or as I was, in the midst of a flourishing ministry that I loved with all my heart – when God says that it is time to move on – Sister, it is time to move on!
Do you find yourself circling the mountain? Clinging to familiar territory? Preferring the known discomforts of the wilderness to the unknowns of where God might lead you? Do you feel uncertain, unable, and-or unwilling to step away from the “mountain” in your life – whatever that might be – so that you can move on to what God has next for you?
You may be perfectly positioned today exactly where God wants you to be and where He is using you. That is a wonderful thing! But if you are feeling that God is saying, “You’ve stayed long enough at this “mountain” – this ministry – this church – this job – this whatever – no matter how good or how comfortable, friend, when God says that it is time to move on, then it is time to move on.
Move on in obedience.
Move on in faith.
Move on toward the blessings, the battles,
and the victories that God has in store for you.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
As for me, the hard decision to move on, which meant surrender of a ministry that I loved dearly to pursue a new ministry filled with unknowns and uncertainties, was the right decision. God has proven faithful and trustworthy in all things in the past, and I know that He will keep me in times of blessings, battles, and victories.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God Who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9