History Lesson
I’ve always enjoyed studying history. I remember as a kid being fascinated with American History. The revolutionary war, the civil war and WWII really stand out in my memory of American history. There is so much more to history than certain wars. I think the reason these particular wars stand out in my mind is the reason for the conflict was so great. In the Revolutionary War, we were fighting for freedom to govern our selves and pursue our own hopes and dreams as a nation. The Civil war was a fight for human rights and privileges. World War II revealed what could happen when a sick powerful person came to power and hated a specific people group. He had to be stopped. I believe that there are times we have to fight for our values. There are times when we go on the offence to fight and times when we defend and celebrate the values we already espouse.
Moses prepared the people before they entered the Promised Land with a quick history lesson and how they could celebrate their history. Check this out…
5 Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians ill-treated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.’ Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. (Deuteronomy 26:5-10 NIV)
I don’t ever want to forget the history of my journey with the Lord. There are so many times in my journey where He showed up and showed out in Power as He moved things around. He has always kept His promises. He has always been on time. He has always been so very patient. He has NEVER left me alone. The story of my life is not nearly as colorful or eventful as the people of Israel, but it really is HIS-story written on the pages of my heart. I can’t change the mistakes of my past, but I can still learn profound lessons from them. I can even still learn from the mistakes of others.
If I take the time to reflect on where I’ve been it can clarify the direction I’m headed in now.
Pressing On!
Dwayne