16-Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17-and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Exodus 3:16-17
Do you believe God’s promises? It is a matter of yes or no. If you do, the above verse says, “I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction…to the land flowing with milk and honey.” God promised this to our forefathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He promises the same to us.
God promised Abraham land, many descendants, and blessing. He repeated this promise to Isaac, Abraham’s son. And then he also gave the same promise to Isaacs’s son Jacob. Because of this multi-generational impact, God is rightly known as the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The first three words of verse 16 are Go and Gather. It made me think of the past week and what we are all facing with Covid-19. How much have you ‘gone and gathered’ over the past week? Have you been preparing for a longer “shelter at home” than the media is speaking about? Obviously, many Americans have gathered way more than their share as grocery store shelves are empty of many items.
Besides gathering needed items to physically survive these weeks ahead, I think this verse is pertinent for exactly where we are. Go and Gather. Yes, go and gather physical items you may need, but more importantly, Go and gather your people! Obviously this will be a small group (under 10) in you home. But, with the vast opportunity of social media, gather people online. Tell them the stories and promises of the Bible. The stories where God brought His people out of trials. God has prepared us for such a time as this. Look to our heroes of the Bible and how God provided and made a way out for them.
Wont he do it again??!!