Scripture
And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
when I, the Lord , did everything I could
to teach you about my faithfulness. Micah 6:5
Observation
How can we learn the right way to take in life?
All of life is a journey. Permanence is an illusion. At best we can re-arrange the furniture in the hotel room but there is always another day’s travel toward heaven. Putting us on the right road is only half of the struggle the Lord has with us. The other job he has to do is to get the road into us so that the road map becomes part of our heart as the ways of God are tattooed on the soul.
Journeys are designed by the Lord to teach us about him. A journey is a state of constant change and it is there that we best see clearly God who never changes. Throughout the Bible whenever the Lord wanted to introduce a leader to something new about himself he took him on a journey. Abraham was roused out of the comforts of Ur , young Daniel was kidnapped from the palace and sent back to the land of Abraham while even Jesus kept his disciples in a state of constant flux to make them more receptive to truth.
Of all the journeys Micah could have mentioned the one from Acacia Grove to Gilgal was probably not on the top of the postcard list. Acacia Grove was a black hole where the people had fallen into gross immorality. Gilgal was remembered with a wince as the place where 600,000 men were circumcised. Say no more. Between those events were their first battles and victories. It was on that road they finally took to heart that to God righteousness is never an idea to be talked about, it is always action to be taken. He carved the action of righteousness into their hearts so they would never forget no matter what road they took.
Application
There are seasons of life where the Lord makes the way demanding and clear like the journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal. Then there are other seasons on the other side of the Jordan where it seems that there are many roads and many options all of which seem good. It’s our faithful journey on the tough road that helps us navigate well when we move on to the next stage of the journey where many opportunities open up. When the road is in our heart we never need a map for we sense the right way to take.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the tough seasons of my life. Thank you for the times at Acacia Grove where you have been uncompromising with me. Thank you for the times like Gilgal when you asked for everything. Thank you too not just for the other side of the Jordan but for the road map in my heart that helps me to journey well when there seem to be so many options. Keep me close to your righteousness so that I am always wise to the ways that are right. Amen.
