Yahweh's Wilderness Is Yahweh's Divine Delay

Exodus 13


We are walking in today: Yahweh's Wilderness Is Yahweh's Divine Delay

Witness wilderness throughout the Bible:  H4057 midbar pasture,  uninhabited land,  large tracts of wilderness (around cities),  mouth (as organ of speech)
Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 68:7-9, 78:17; Mark 1:11-13

Exodus 13:17-22
17 Now after Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not take them through the land of the Philistines, though that was near: for God said, If the people see war, they may have a change of heart and go back to Egypt. 18 But God took the people round by the waste land near the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up in fighting order out of the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the children of Israel take an oath, saying, God will certainly keep you in mind; and you are to take my bones away with you. 20 Then they went on their journey from Succoth, and put up their tents in Etham at the edge of the waste land. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, guiding them on their way; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light: so that they were able to go on day and night: 22 The pillar of cloud went ever before them by day, and the pillar of fire by night.

Delays to the majority of us including myself can be a bit irritating. Our hearts set on a thing to come to pass, with excitement and anticipation much energy and effort--all come to an abrupt halt. Due to one delay in the plan--weeks, months and years past until finally the plans come to full fruition. Right before our eyes as if the delay never existed. The wait is over the plan comes to pass. We who believe in Yahweh praise Him for bringing this wait to pass.
What about those who are not so impatient that they are not looking to Him and are not minding the wait to success? Those who are critical and complaining, being impatient and mocking Yahweh as if nothing was ever done in their lives. Or that He is unaware of every single situation that you could or will face? The biggest gift ever for me, my salvation. Would I then turn and act like nothing happened? This is what the children of Israel did with Yahweh. My salvation took time, to change the mindset and more refinement even after that. What about the years spent in the world? So now you are a super child of Yahweh instantly casting out demons and healing the sick? Not quite that quickly! No, the wilderness experience is our proving and refinement just at it was with the the children of Israel--facing this reshaping that we would be returned to our original place in His plan and purpose! So we must be tested tried-and-true as well.

Between failure and success, the point is so fine, We sometimes do not know when they touch the line. Just when the pearl was waiting one more plunge, How many a struggler has thrown up the sponge. Then take this honey from the bitterest cup, there is no failure except in giving up....

--C.C. Cameron


Delays in the Kingdom are used for 3 reasons.

1. Yahweh uses delays to prepare us: the Israelites were a slave people and they weren't prepared for war, and Yahweh knew if they went to war they wouldn't be able to handle it. Every dream has its difficulties. Yahweh uses delays to get us ready for those difficult times that we are going to face during the course of our journey. These delays are designed to strengthen our faith and make us stronger.

2. Yahweh uses delays to test us:

Deuteronomy 8:2
"God led you through the wilderness for forty years... testing you to find out how you would respond and if you would obey Him." Yahweh uses delays to test how we will respond under pressure and to test our loyalty and obedience to Him.

3.Yahweh uses delays to train us because sometimes it takes longer to get Egypt out of us than it does to get us out of Egypt! The culture and habits of Egypt were ingrained in the hearts and minds of the Israelite people. Yahweh could bring them out of Egypt in one night but it would take years to get Egypt out of them. When you and I got saved we had habits and thought patterns that were of this world. When we got saved those thought patterns and habits came with us. Yahweh uses the delays to break those habits and thought patterns and train you in His way of thinking and doing things. The best thing to do when you are in His waiting room is be patient and let Yahweh do His work in your life. Your test of maturity is how well you handle the delays in your life.
Sadly, the children of Israel flunked this test. They never made it through the delay--only two Israelites who left Egypt actually got to go into the Promised Land. A whole generation had to die in the desert, only the next generation got to go in. Only two of the first generation--Joshua and Caleb got to go in. Why? Because they trusted Yahweh to take them! To hear this teaching again click here.When you're going through the delays in your life, there're four things that you don't want to do. If you do these four things it will prolong the delay. Don't fear; Don't fret; Don't faint; Don't forget. To hear this teaching again click here.