That Dark Side of the Dream
Slavery in Egypt gave the Israelites a dream. They dreamt of Canaan but tripped in the desert.
With a gob-smacking, history turning intervention God led His woeful troupe of moaners and groaners through the Red Sea. Each subsequent day for four decades He endured their bad spirits, and their bitter attitudes as they slopped around the Desert of Sin - eyes cast far too low.
Released from Egypt, slavery behind them and Canaan ahead was still not sufficient for such skilled grumblers. These nay-sayers so blinded by the dark that light had little chance.
These ancient slaves, this rag-tag bunch of thankless mean-mouths instinctively looked down to the dispiriting dust, repeating their habits of Egypt when all that was required of them was to look up. Then would place darkness behind them.
Why would anyone gaze on dull dust when they can peer into bright blue skies?
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)
It is far simpler, more natural even - to see pain than pleasure, and scan for burdens rather than blessing.
Likewise my thoughts too unwittingly descend. I cast my eyes so low that I trip. This is the way of the natural man. Tragically, it is still my way all too frequently.
In contrast there is the supernatural man; the Holy Spirit revived, the Holy Bible enriched life of a fully-forgiven disciple of Jesus.
The supernatural man may endure even more heartache than the natural man, but he is being equipped to stop and look high; there is then no dark side to the dream.
Eyes cast low will never take the disciple forward, they only assist his crashes in the circle work of his desert.
Life does not expire by walking through decades of futile sandy circles if the eyes are cast high, for in looking up Canaan is found - the dream becomes real.
To raise the eyes is guaranteed to feed a faith that sees no dark side and reaches its dream.
Today's Soul Snippet
"Failure is often the line of least persistence." ~ anon
Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint SoulSnacks in hard copy form, using them for Bible Studies or other Christian forums, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. SoulSupply asks only that you keep the SoulSupply website and email contact information intact.
Love this SoulSnack? - PLEASE take a moment and share it with a friend. Would you like to subscribe for free SoulSnacks either weekly or each workday?