“Go On” – Part 1

Exodus 17:1-6 KJV
And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
 
And the water did come from the rock; and their journey continued… Note the question of Moses (v4),
“What shall I do?”. Note the answer of God (v5), “go on”. Also, note the promise for the future (v6), “I will provide”. A question, an answer, and a promise.
 
As Moses and the children of Israel traveled towards the Promised Land they came to a critical crossroads.  Moses had a question for God, “What shall I do?”
In our faith journey we all will come to these types of crossroads. Not everything will go as desired. The unexpected will happen. Troubles come that we did not ask for or anticipate. Problems develop that we don’t believe we deserve. Sudden disappointments will come our way.
 
For those of us of the Christian faith; there is an universal belief among us concerning this journey of life. This belief is the one foundational truth that will keep us in the faith. I simply refer to the belief that we are not on this journey alone. We believe that as we travel along life’s journey; we have a traveling companion Who promised us, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
 
I’m talking about the One Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Our traveling Companion, our Shepherd Who leads us and feeds us. The One Who guides and provides. Even through the dark valleys of trials and tribulations, He is with us. His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.
 
As Moses was leading this great multitude of people from bondage to the promised land; He knew he had a Companion leading him, guiding him, providing all his need. However; when he came to this place… a place he had never been before…when he didn’t know exactly what to do… he cried to the Lord, “What shall I do?” Within a mili-second the answer came, “and the Lord said unto Moses, Go on.”
 
Moses; this ain’t no stopping place.
Moses; you know this is not the final destination for you and this people.
Mose; trust Me… I’ve made a way before and I will do it again.
Moses; meet Me at the Rock on the Mount. I’ll stand before you.
Moses; I will work this situation out for you… because I want you to go on.
Moses, I have a promised land for this people.
Moses, I’ve promised that this people would inherit the land.
Moses, I’ve given My word and I must fulfill My word… now… go on.
 
The rest is history. Moses met God on the mountain. Moses obeyed the Lord. God provided water from the rock and the people continued their journey to the promised land.
 
Every one of us will encounter some crossroads in our journey. We will have that same, sincere, honest question… “what shall I do?.
 
Considering where we’ve been in life’s journey and considering the promise of God for our future, “what shall I do?”
To be continued ….
 

D L Rogers