Gone tenting
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken (Isaiah 33:20b).
Many years ago, my parents took me camping alongside a beautiful stream. It was exciting to unroll the sleeping bags inside the canvas tent with all its musty smells and dead bugs. So many things occur when camping that don’t happen in normal life.
That night, as we stayed along the banks of this lovely stream, a storm rolled up. And let me tell you, a tent is not a nice place to be when the wind is howling and rain is pounding against the fly. If you’re lucky, the tent will withstand the storm. But if you’re unlucky, the tent will collapse, and you’ll be screaming for a new shelter.
When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, I’m sure they had some pretty terrifying nights in the tents. More than once, they might have been buffeted by all sorts of storms in the desert.
Throughout their journeys, they were always looking forward to the Promised Land. A place where they’d feel secure. A quiet habitation, where their tents would never be un-staked, nor their securing cords be broken.
Do you long for that vision, where life will be a quiet habitation? Do you long for the day when you can look out over the beauty of what God has made and not worry about a coming storm or whether your tent will collapse?
And that day is coming. ‘But there the Lord in majesty will be for us, a place of broad rivers and streams where no galley with oars can go, nor stately ship can pass’ (verse 21).
There, our God will be, and he will provide a place of safety for his people.
I’m looking forward to that camping experience.
Lord of all creation, guide me to safety and surround me with a shelter that can protect me from the storms. Remind me of the beautiful place you have for us all. Amen.
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