A Table In The Desert
Are you dwelling in a dry, lifeless, undesirable, barren and lonely place ... otherwise known as a desert? Our Lord Jesus Christ specializes in sere, devoid, and uninhabitable places, and He can "set a table in the desert."
They spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the desert?"
The Israelites asked that provocative question of the Lord, even after they had seen Him roll back the waters that they could pass over; they witnessed water gush from a rock; they saw manna fall from heaven; and they watched as they were protected by a cloud by day and a fire by night. Still, they tempted the Lord, the Psalm says, by asking if God could spread a table in the desert, because they were sick of "manna" and wanted meat.
We have experienced those places where we wonder where God is and if He knows and sees our needs. We, like the Israelites, tend to forget the many times He made a way where there was no way. I remember the time groceries were left on my doorstep when noone knew we needed them; and the time the $70.00 in tuition money was found in new bills strewn across the front seat of my car; or how about the time I had just moved and had no food and no money ... I prayed for help and said, "Oh, Lord, if I could just have a steaming cup of coffee right now;" there was an immediate knock on the door with a man standing there with food and a steaming mug of coffee in his hand! I had moved numerous times and that had never happened before; but, I had never prayed that prayer before. The Bible says that even before we call, He will answer; this was was a perfect example of that scripture! We must always remind ourselves of God's loving hand of provision so many times before, when we "hit those dry places."
"You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies. You anoint my
head with oil; my cup overflows."
(Psalm 23:5)
"Preparing a table" speaks of God's providence and favor; the good Shepherd is ever mindful of His sheep; He always takes care of them in spite of, or in the presence of, their enemies. The anointing of oil is a symbol of gladness and overflowing, as well as it represents the teaching of all things. Even in times of lack and utter disappointment, we have the oil of gladness, which is the Spirit of the Lord, and for New Testament saints, the table prepared before us also represents the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, offered to sustain, protect, redeem and cover us, in and through life's deserts. In James 5:14, the oil is for healing and we're advised, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
"And provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them
a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for
the display of His splendor."
(Isaiah 61:3)
Our deserts can become an oasis through our faith in the Lord and our trust in His provision for us. He desires that we prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper. (3 John 1:2) The key is to never neglect the soul; we must make sure we have obeyed the Gospel, which is a prospering of the soul. We must be filled with His Spirit and baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19) When our souls prosper, everything else in our lives will prosper, and we can "expect" that God will carry us through the storms and meet our needs.
Sometimes we feel like the answer will never come; it seems at times that the heavens are closed and our prayers bounce against a dark, cold ceiling. During those times, we hold our invisible faith in our hand and we do a little something my Pastor has taught us to do for many many years, "take hold of nothing and hold on until it becomes something!"
By Sheryl Fowler
(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)
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