Summer 2000
Passing Through Dry Places
Dr. Ronald L. Taylor

“Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them for this
is the law and the prophets." Matt 7:12.

In order to understand this statement, read Deuteronomy chapter eight, which gives one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of the result of our following the Lord's commands or law, and links it to our asking and receiving from Him.

"For the Lord your God bringeth you into a good land,
a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths
that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat
and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates,
a land of olives and honey; a land wherein you shall
eat bread without scarceness. You shall not lack any
thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of
whose hills you may dig brass." Deut 8:7-9.

This was a sure word, because it was as good as done in the Lord's eyes. We must believe this, if we are going on with the Lord.

The Lord intends good things for us. However, in Deut 8:10-11, there is a warning:

"When you have eaten and are full, then you
shall bless the Lord your God for the good
land which He has given you.”

“Beware that you forget not the Lord your God,
failing to observe His commands, lest when you
have eaten and are full, and have built goodly
houses, and dwelt therein, and when your herds
and your flocks multiply, and your silver and
your gold is multiplied and all that you have
is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up,
and you forget the Lord your God, which brought
you forth out of the land of Egypt, from the
house of bondage."

First, the Lord warns us that we are only released from the bondage of Egypt (the world system) as we align ourselves with His word.

Second, we need to note that the path to His provision is through dry places, venomous snakes, and miraculous provisions.

"He led you through the vast and dreadful desert,
that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous
snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of
hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert,
something your fathers had never known, to humble
and to test you so that in the end it might go well
with you." Exodus 8:15-16 NIV.

Some of us never get past the dry places, as we quit part-way through, saying, "I did not count on this, when I signed on." We must become willing to go through tribulation, through the Lord’s long-term plan, in order to get to our promised lands. Not understanding this, we seek after continuous miraculous provision, and then become impatient and opt out in the middle, when this does not happen.

Third, we are told in Deut 8:18,

"The Lord your God gives you the ability to
produce wealth."

This is the part that we do not hear much about. How does God give us the ability to produce wealth? The key here is in our attitude regarding work.

Paul talks about work in Colossians 3:23 NIV.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men, since you
know you will receive an inheritance from the
Lord as a reward."

We need to rethink our concept of work. There is a basic misconception that work is the result of the fall of man. In Genesis, Adam was given work to do as the keeper of the Garden, long before there was any sin involved. There may not have been weeds in the Garden of Eden before the Fall, but there was work - good, wholesome, gratifying work.

What then does it mean to “work with all your heart?" If we really care about our work, we will be both diligent and skillful. It is a shame that Christians are sometimes sloppy in their work. This brings discredit to their Lord, and gives them a bad name among unbelievers.

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will
serve before kings, he will not serve before
obscure men." Proverbs 22:29 NIV.

In conclusion, remember these three phases in our coming into the Lord's provision:

First; The Lord cuts the bonds of poverty as we align ourselves with His Word.

Second; The Lord allows us to go through testing and humbling - through dry places where there are snakes and scorpions, and the occasional miracle.

Third; Do not forget the Lord when He enables us to become established in our promised land through skillfulness and diligence.

When we pray for the Lord's provision, we may be sure that He will take us through these three stages for our own good, and for His glory. But the end is assured,

The Lord will take us into our promised land.