24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year.
~ Ex 34:24
Certainly, this is a time of year when God’s people rejoice. However, it is a given that some will not be able to travel, and even those that do may face difficulty. Certainly, the situation in Rwanda is particularly troubling. In spite of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, they continue to face opposition to worship even when going out of the country to do so.
Every year, we hear about someone who had some difficulty, and it is evident that they were allowed to go through the trial, albeit it is usually evident that they were guided through it. They are not prevented from going through it in the first place, though.
So, what of the promise in Exodus 34? It has often been pointed to as a promise of protection, but is that what it really says? If you read it plainly, it has a very specific promise that a person’s enemies would not desire their land. Strictly speaking, a lot of other things are allowed. However, in ancient times, land was everything. They couldn’t scoot into a car and go grocery shopping. They had to grow their food or barter for it. Not many lived in the city. No land meant no food, no wool from the sheep, no milk, etc.
I believe it then to be a promise for the basic necessities. Yes, we are to rejoice, and the idea is that throughout the year we have received blessings enough for the journey and celebrate before God. I think we all realize God does not give us everything we want, though, nor does He necessarily give us what we need how we want it. Sometimes what we need is a little friction, I’m afraid, and it will either strengthen or weaken our resolve based upon our attitude. In fact, I too often have to admit that before things can get better, my attitude must change.
So, what can any of us do? Regardless of whether we are going through the trial or witnessing someone else go through one, we need to pray. We need to pray for one another often. We cannot allow ourselves to become weary, but we must develop deeper compassion for others. If the trial is on us, we need to pray that we can still carry out what we need to do in a way that pleases God.
Remember, God is our father, not a genie that grants wishes. His love and mercy are forever, but He has a goal in mind for each and every one of us. Pray for a fulfilling and uplifting Feast for all.