Intro/Outro Song - Nobody Loves Me Like You - Chris Tomlin
Introduction:
Welcome to Christ Talk Canada, I am your host Pastor Michael, and today we will be discussing a topic that is both familiar and unique to many of us, and that is The Long Walk Home.
Message:
The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years until God sent Moses to lead them out of bondage and into the Promised Land. Despite facing many challenges along the way, the Israelites learned to trust God's provision and guidance, even when they didn't understand what was happening or where they were going. Their long walk home was not an easy one, and they repeatedly grumbled and complained, longing to go back to their former way of life. However, God never gave up on them, and he continued to love them and to lead them, even through the wilderness.
One of the key lessons we can learn from the Israelites is the importance of obedience. Throughout their journey, God gave them specific instructions and commandments to follow, but they often failed to obey. This disobedience led to consequences, such as the plagues that came upon them in the wilderness, or the wandering that lasted for 40 years. But God gave them these instructions because he knew what was best for them. When they followed his guidance, they were blessed and protected.
Another lesson we can learn from the Israelites is the importance of perseverance. The journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was not a short one. It took years of walking, wandering, and waiting. There were times when the Israelites were tempted to give up and turn back, but they kept going. They kept trusting in God's promises, even when they couldn't see the end of the road.
Likewise, as we journey towards home, we may face challenges and obstacles. It may take years or even decades to fully experience the love and grace of God. There may be times when we feel like giving up, when we're tempted to turn back to our old ways. But we must keep persevering, keep trusting in God's promises, and keep walking towards the home that he has prepared for us.
We can also learn from the Israelites the importance of community. Throughout their journey, the Israelites were a people on the move. They traveled together, camped together, and shared their experiences together. They had their disagreements and their conflicts, but ultimately, they were united in their shared goal of reaching the Promised Land. Likewise, as we journey towards home, we need to be part of a community of believers. We need to find other people who are also on the same path, who can support us, encourage us, and hold us accountable.
Trust is another key theme that emerges from the Israelites' journey. Throughout their journey, the Israelites had to trust God's guidance and provision. They had to trust that God was leading them to a land flowing with milk and honey, even when they couldn't see it. They had to trust that God would provide for their needs in the wilderness, even when they lacked food and water. Similarly, as we journey towards home, we must learn to trust God completely. We must trust that he has a plan for our lives, even when we can't see it. We must trust that he will provide for our needs, even when we're in the midst of a difficult season. And we must trust that he is leading us to a place of rest and peace, even when the journey seems long and difficult.
As always you can contact Pastor Michael at https://ChristTalk.ca or by email at Info@christtalk.ca
