Hebrews 11:38, “of whom the world was not worthy. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.”
Wanderers
Merrill F. Unger refers to the time between the testaments
as The Four Hundred Silent Years
counting from the prophet Malachi to the arrival of the prophet John the
Baptist. Most Biblical records for this era come from Jewish historians.
A the end of one portion of historical Jewish history,
sometimes referred to as the time of the Maccabees, they cleansed the Temple
and, “They celebrated it for eight days
with rejoicing, in the manner of the festival of booths, remembering how not
long before…they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild
animals.” According to the records this self-banishment lasted almost
thirty years.
Their faith took them into this harried lifestyle with no
guarantee that they would be rescued, or ever able to return home. They fled in
order to remain true to God in worship. They gave up everything they knew and
loved to follow faithfully God’s words of truth.
And that day may come again to God’s people.
Would we be as ready to stand up with this level of courage?
We who some days get upset over changes to our schedules, perceived intrusions in
our lives, and fragile egos at hints of disagreement?
Not apart from the Word and the Spirit to sustain us.
During those silent years the words and stories of Yahweh as
told by His prophets carried on through generation-to-generation waiting and
hoping for Messiah. And each Lenten season we remember the real deliverance
fulfilled. We often choose to give
up something during this season, either a habit that has become a hold on us,
or time so as to spend more fellowship in prayer.
Sometimes though that focus on making it through Lent
without … becomes our primary concern. Or during any other season of life when
we face loss and can only manage to make it through the days. Instead, perhaps
we should choose to celebrate that Jesus has won the victory for us and that
regardless of loss or gain, He supplies true hope every day. His courage every
day. His faith every moment.
Lord, please write your words into our hearts, so that we
can pass on Your stories to the next generation so that they will know Your
hope.
Your thoughts,
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