IT IS TIME TO MOVE


 IT IS TIME TO MOVE


“The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.’”

— Deuteronomy 1:6


It was the Lord Himself who nudged the Israelites to move away from Horeb. But what was so peculiar about Horeb that made the Israelites almost turn it into their new home—as though it were the Promised Land?


At Horeb, the Israelites experienced:


1. The manifest presence of God through thunder, lightning, fire, smoke, earthquake, and the audible voice of God (Exod. 19–20).



2. The giving of the Ten Commandments and the wider covenant laws (Exod. 20–23).



3. The appointment of elders, judges, and delegated authority to assist Moses in leadership (Exod. 18; Deut. 1:9–18).



4. Instructions concerning the Tabernacle, sacrifices, priesthood, and holiness (Exod. 25–31; Leviticus).




Horeb was an entirely new and overwhelming experience—a place where the people encountered the God of their fathers in a fresh and distinct way. They became so absorbed and carried away by these awesome encounters that they felt, “This is the place to stay; let us pitch our tents here.”


But unfortunately—for them and for us—there was something else, something greater, that still had to be done:


 “Make a move now, and go on your way into the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Arabah, the hill country, the lowlands, the South, and the seacoast—the land of the Canaanites and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.”

— Deuteronomy 1:7–8




Apparently, Horeb was merely a place of:


1. Encounter before assignment



2. Instruction before inheritance



3. Formation before possession



4. Revelation before mission



5. The road, not the destination




Horeb was ideally a transition point—from revelation to responsibility, from mountain to mission, from learning to living.


But sincerely, no one who has experienced such glorious revelations would want to leave them in a hurry. The disciples themselves wanted to build three tents on the Mount of Transfiguration so they could prolong the peaceful experience with Jesus (Matt. 17:4). Yet, they had to come down from the mountain to confront the realities and challenges of life.


Brethren, yours may not be a beautiful experience. It may be ugly and indescribable. But you’ve still got to move away.

The betrayal by comrades and associates—these are merely experiences of equipping before possession. Move on, brother. You’ve got to move on—please.


Yours may even be the incessant experience of manna raining from heaven. But remember, you must move to Canaan, where you will have to labour and till the ground if you must eat. Sincerely, you’ve got to move away and confront the Amorites if you are to take your rightful possession.


Revelation is not a mission.

Stop living in the dream.

Enter the world of reality.

Yesterday is gone.

Today’s challenges are here.

You’ve got to face them.


Take a move away from this Horeb.

The experiences here must shape your movement, but this is not a place for permanent residence.


Shake off the beast into the fire.

Let us move to our Canaan.

And you shall surely be victorious.


In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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