Greetings to you…highly-favored and anointed child of God in the name of the One whose touch can change everything, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Savior! What a beautiful late summer morning in the Kingdom, surely this must be the day that the Lord has made for us, so let us rejoice and be glad in it. I trust that all is well with you and you have been enjoying the summer season. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father: to bless you and keep you – to smile upon you and gift you – to look you full in the face – and make you prosper. (Numbers 6:24-26 The Message)
I have learned two new words…Hebrew words. The words are almost the same…save a letter or two…and for the Hebrew Sages they belong together. The first word is “midbar” – which means ‘desert’. The second word is “midaber” – which means ‘one who speaks’. The reason they belong together according to the Sages is that in the desert we are able to hear the one who speaks. Their reasoning is that there is ‘nothing’ in the desert to distract you from hearing God as He speaks to you.
It would seem that in the place where nothing dwells is the place where everything is found. The journey of the Israelites with God…where they experienced the God of everything began in the desert the place of nothing. One of the verses that affirms this says…Therefore I am now going to allure her (Israel); I will lead her into the wilderness (midbar) and speak tenderly to her (midaber) – Hosea 2:14 NIV. Truth be told, I understand the importance of the desert or wilderness from personal experience. Sometimes when it seems like you have nothing, you end up with everything.
One more new insight that I have learned is that of being “kissed” by God. My devotional reading this morning reminded me that we experience His faithful kisses when He whispers our name and when His peace surrounds a troubled mind and when the dawn attacks the darkness and when His truth lifts our head and when He draws us close as He receives our worship. God, it seems likes to share intimate moments with His children.
Just a little something to ponder…be blessed