In His Name Devotionals
BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT
In His Name Devotionals
BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert [wilderness], and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb (Exodus 3:1, KJV).
The desert is where Moses learned lessons that were far beyond the reach of Egypt's most gifted masters; and at “the backside of the desert” he met God. In the eyes of human reason, it might appear a strange loss of time for a man like Moses to spend forty years doing nothing except keeping a few sheep in the wilderness. But he was there with God, and time spent with God is never lost. The true servant of Jesus Christ must always remember that there is something far more important than merely doing. A person who is always doing is apt to do too much. Such a one needs to deeply ponder the practical words of the perfect Servant,
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. (Is. 50:4-5, NIV).
This is an indispensable part of the servant's business. In order to know what needs to be done, the servant must frequently stand in his master's presence. The "ear" and "tongue" are intimately connected, in more ways than one; but, from a spiritual or moral point of view, if the ear is closed and the tongue is loose, you can be sure that the talk is folly. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak …" (James 1:19). This seasonable admonition is based on two facts: everything good comes from above; the heart is full of naughtiness and always ready to overflow. Therefore, keeping the ear open and the tongue quiet is an admirable attainment—one that Moses became proficient in at "the backside of the desert."
