One Step Back, Two Leaps Forward

Prelude to the Promised Land

Often times, we need to step back, reflect and learn from the lessons of the past in order to ensure  our future success. The Israelites failed on their first try. God was ready to empower them but the they were not ready to claim their promised land. They missed their golden opportunity to enjoy God’s best and they wasted thirty-eight long years of bitter living in the howling desert. 

You must be ready when the opportunity comes. If you miss it, it is gone forever.

King Solomon wisely said, “Yet another thing I observed under the sun is that races aren’t won by the swift or battles by the strong, and that food doesn’t go to the wise or wealth to the intelligent or favor to the experts; rather, time and chance rule them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, CJB)

When time and chance happen (and they will), the person who is best prepared will succeed. There are many people with tremendous talents but miss their golden opportunity to shine. Before someone becomes an acclaimed artist, for instance, one needs to take the disciplines of study, long rehearsals, persistence, ability to learn quickly, being thorough, and to exercise the wisdom of learning from the mistakes of others.

Steve Jobs is an example. When the global market was ripe for an electronic gadget that was slick, user-friendly, seamless apps enriched and filled with glossy features, he was ready with his mac, ipod, iphone and ipad. He did his homework and his ‘apple’ empire conquered the world. Others could have done it since the technology needed to build it was available. But Steve Jobs was the one who went ahead and did it. He therefore single-handedly possessed the ‘promised land’ of electronic and information technology.  Time and chance will favor those who are well-prepared.

In Deuteronomy chapter one, Moses took a great deal of trouble reviewing the bitter lessons of the past to ensure the success of this new generation of Israelites in the promised land. One step back, two leaps forward.

Like a slingshot, you need to pull back hard in order to forcefully advance and hit the mark. The "mark" referred to is all of God’s best for your life. The "mark" of the Israelites was to occupy and enjoy their promised land.

(Source: http://veronikanagy.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/slingshot_sm.jpg)

Personal application: 

Take time to have regular periods of reflection, recounting of God’s blessings, and reviewing your direction. Once a week, during Saturdays or whenever you are free, is a good time to set aside an hour or up to half a day to evaluate on the week that passed, recharge for the next week and refresh your vision and direction from God. The following are questions you may want to ask, "Am I still walking in God's best for my life?" "Is this the direction the Lord wants me to take?" "Am I in the center of God's will?" "Am I still hitting the mark?"

Similarly, set aside a season of prayer and fasting devoted to seeking the Lord, worshiping Him and listening to what He has to say.

Likewise, you may set special times of waiting on the Lord, evaluating and reflecting on your life every year, three years, five years or seven years. These special times of stepping back before moving forward again becomes more significant when we consider that our lives are just too short to be wasted.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)

While we are on the subject of reviewing the past, I believe it is worth studying our nation's history and learning from it. This is also true of church history in local, national and global scale. We could learn what they did right. (A good example is studying worldwide revivals and how they came about.) Or we could correct the mistakes of the past. (We could then intelligently pray for our nation, humble ourselves before God, turn from our wicked ways and seek God's favor. He promised to hear from heaven and heal our land. 2 Chronicles 7:14)

As for your family's history, you may discover sins committed by your parents or ancestors. These sins may have brought a generational curse over your family. Some examples: adultery shows up again and again in the family's history, or violence, alcoholism, gambling, drug addictions, witchcraft, idolatry, etc. You may then intercede in behalf of your family, seek God's forgiveness and ask God's kingdom to come resulting to righteousness and revival in your homes.

Father in heaven, we seek your mercy and grace. Be pleased to renew your awesome works in our generation. Help us learn important lessons in our history, empower us by your Spirit to glorify you daily, and shower us with your favor that we may bring you praise in the earth, in Jesus name, amen.

(Deuteronomy chapter 1, part 1 of 5)

(re-writing Deuteronomy 003)