Venture of Faith, the Life of Faith, and the Reward of Faith

 Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
30 He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.”
31 But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”
33 So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest.

By Deacon Josue Gonzalez

As I read numbers 10:29-33, I was inspired to write about this passage. You need to have your Bible with you. 

Jethro lived among the Israelites in the desert, all the while experiencing how Moses and God dealt with God’s people when they left Egypt. Time and time again the Israelites continue with disbelief of God’s provision for them. At every turn, God showed His promise and His power. Jethro, not being an Israelite, was probably scratching his head. 

How can these people not know this God is trustworthy? 

Jethro was a Midianite priest in the land of Midian. He knew what false gods were and the worship of false gods. He had his family, culture, livestock and his own property. Why in the world would he leave all this and still go with a people that had nothing and were still wandering in the desert fighting God? I believe that through experiencing the Word of God and the power of what God was doing, true faith was created within Jethro’s heart. God made things happen. There was no explanation through human power or wisdom or by any other gods. Jethro saw pagan gods being destroyed and subdued by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He witnessed for himself the truth about this God. 

In some common ways with Jethro, I too believe about this God. I have lived a life as a nomadic person in the desert, wandering from state to state, not knowing where I would sleep or what food I would be able to eat each day. I was not able to find rest for my soul. 

I have identified with a lot of pagan gods in my life and experienced false hope repeatedly. Faith develops by the Word of God and His power. Since starting this journey, just like Jethro, I came to have hope in my life and I fully understood there is one true God of all gods. Being around people of different cultures and languages, walking with them and seeing their struggles and my own, praying, listening and helping in any way I can…day or night, snow or rain, with plenty or in scarcity, feeling well or sick, I try to be a present with others and a witness to God’s power in this life. I am convinced because of the struggles and testimony of my life, that change can happen to anyone who allows themselves to experience God’s power through His Son Jesus who is the savior of this world. 

The Bible is not a story of fairy tales and mystical events. (God is being revealed) It is the true Word of God in this earth with all creation. God’s nature is visible and tangible. Through faith, Jesus Christ is and will be the only visible and tangible substance in this life and beyond. Let us come together in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal to the world the unity that is in Christ Jesus. Amen

Originally posted January 11, 2011 at https://diariesofamissiondeveloper.wordpress.com/2021/01/11/venture-of-faith-the-life-of-faith-and-the-reward-of-faith/