Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, through the Red Sea on dry ground, and into the desert. Day after day they trudged in the hot, dry ground, and they complained. They complained a lot, but mostly about the scarcity of water and food. “Did you bring us out here to die?” they asked Moses. They reflected on the abundance of food and water in Egypt. Did they forget the hard, exhausting work and abuse of slavery?
The picture is taken of En Gedi near the Dead Sea. Streams of water seem to gush from the rocks. Actually the water comes from high mountain springs to this natural oasis. It is located in the Negev and is the wilderness where John the Baptist preached and where Jesus was tempted by the devil after John baptized Him in the Jordan River. It was a refuge for David when he ran for his life from King Saul. It was a refreshing refuge for me too.
Life takes each of us through periods in the wilderness of suffering, sorrow, loss or anxiety. Memories of my time at En Gedi remind me that tough times don’t last. God is faithful to refresh my soul, calm the storms and empower me to accomplish more than I could ever dream possible. He does that as I read His word, and as I spend time in prayer. He has become my best Friend. Sometimes when I don’t know what to pray, I just say, “I love you, Lord,” or “Thank you, Jesus,” or “Help me, Jesus.”
God has become my En Gedi, my refuge, my fortress and hiding place. I feel protected in the shelter of His presence. This security can be yours too. Say the name of “Jesus,” and experience His nearness. He is faithful. He is always with you and will never abandon you.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for places of refuge and times of refreshment. Thank you for your comfort, counsel and peace. Thank you that you are always with us and you will never leave us alone. Help us not to be afraid but to look to you in troubling times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Closer Walk with God 