Day 3 in the Wilderness: Your Guide is Your only LIFELINE

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭23:20-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In 1914, Ernest Shackleton set sail with 27 other men, bound for the South Pole where they hoped to be the first expedition to walk across the whole continent of Antartica. However, the expedition’s original goal quickly turned into the goal of surviving one harrowing challenge after another.

Having set sail from London in August 1914, their ship became stuck in an ice flow (January 1915) before they could reach Antarctica. They lived stuck on the ship (the Endurance) until the ship succumbed to the pressure of the ice and sank (October 1915). They survived unbelievable adversity, finally all being saved in August of 1916, after Shackleton led a small group to find help. This account is very condensed and a full consideration of all that these men experienced is mind boggling. However, one thing is certain, anyone hearing the full story of this expedition will plainly see that the Lord helped Ernest Shackleton lead himself, and 27 other men, safely home against unimaginable odds.

Shackleton’s leadership and guidance, kept the men mentally encouraged and physically strong, making the difference between surviving and perishing.

Wanting to do things your own way can get you in serious trouble when you are in perilous conditions and woefully unprepared for the contingencies. But, as with the Shackleton Expedition, a seasoned guide can see you through…if you will listen.

Today we find the children of Israel being promised a wonderful Guide to continue on with them. This Guide (the Lord) would not only lead them, but would assure their safety, if they obeyed Him.

It’s true that many people never think to ask the guidance of the Lord. But, even for those who do, there may be resistance to obeying the Guide’s instruction.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Before being crucified, the Lord promised His disciples that—although He was going away—He would not leave them without a Guide.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Surviving the challenges of life requires that we pay close attention to our Guide. If we obey, the Holy Spirit of God will help us successfully negotiate every peril, to lead us safely home.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Your Guide is your only lifeline. #40daysinthewilderness