Do you feel like you’re going through a dry place?

Do you wonder how you’re surviving the current economic downturn?

Does it seem that you’re traveling through an economic desert?

Are you ready for supernatural deliverance from your financial wilderness?

If you answered “yes” to any of the previous four questions. . .I’ve got some great news for you.

Today. . .deliverance is coming to your house.  Believe it! Expect it! Confess It! Manifest It!

Exodus 14:13 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.”

I have taught this passage of scripture on a number of occasions. . .it’s so powerful and encouraging.

The children of Israel were delivered from Egypt by the miracle-working power of God and He would go on to sustain over three million of them in a desolate and dangerous desert.

If you’ve been to Israel. . .you understand what I mean.  If not, you should know there are areas where the vegetation is lush. . .the fields are green and growing crops.  However, a significant part of Israel is a desert.

During their forty years in the wilderness. . .the children of Israel were rarely in an oasis of comfort.  But  yet, during all those years in the Sinai Desert, God provided for His children and protected them from predators. . .the two-legged (hostile nations) and four-legged kind (wild animals.)

If you’ve ever hiked in a desert. . .the experts will remind you to take plenty of food and water, along with suntan lotion and a first aid kit for snake bites and other such medical inconveniences.

The children of Israel survived the wilderness experience because of how God provided for them.

Deuteronomy 29:4-6 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“He has even told you, "For forty years I, the LORD, led you through the desert, but your clothes and your sandals didn't wear out, and I gave you special food. I did these things so you would realize that I am your God." But the LORD must give you a change of heart before you truly understand what you have seen and heard.”

Here are seven provisions for your financial wilderness.

1.         Nobody needed a doctor.

Can you imagine three million people traveling around the wilderness without ever getting sick?

Deuteronomy 7:15 in the Amplified Bible says:

“The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.”

Now the key to the children of Israel being free from disease is found in Deuteronomy 7:16 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.”

One of the best descriptions of how the children of Israel were to live in order to manifest divine health is found in 1 Corinthians 10:6 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did.”

This scripture also offers great advice on how to keep us from needing a financial doctor someone to help resuscitate our economic pulse.

We’re not to crave, covet or lust after the things of this world.

2.         Nobody needed shoes.

I remember once owning a pair of Ecco shoes.  I wore them almost every day for seven years.  Finally, I had to put them aside because the heels were wearing down at an angle.

By any standards, seven years is a long time to wear a single pair of shoes. 

But yet, the scripture says the sandals of the children of Israel did not wear out and you can be assured they wore those shoes were worn seven days a week.

I’m sure there were a wide variety of sandals among those traveling in the wilderness.  Remember, the children of Israel took the valuables of the Egyptians before they left Egypt.

No doubt some of the Egyptians were wearing Jimmy Choo sandals while others came from Cairo Pick and Pay.  Regardless of the brand and/or cost of the sandals. . .none of them wore out.

If you search the scriptures you can find information on a variety of shoes.

Deuteronomy 33:25 says:  “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass. . .”

Ezekiel 16:10 in the New Living Translation says:  “. . . and sandals made of fine goatskin leather.”

Regardless of the style of the shoes. . .they did not wear out.

3.         Nobody needed new clothes.

For most parents August is clothes shopping month.   The kids are preparing for a return to school and they need new clothes. . .because they’ve outgrown the ones they wore last year.

When I was a boy. . .if you tore your slacks or blue jeans. . .they were patched. . .today you buy your jeans with holes already in them.

In my youth, pants with holes or patches was a sign that you were poor.  Today, pants with holes shows that you have parents who paid way too much money to buy them that way.

I remember once my Babygirl wanted a particular pair of jeans from the GAP.  They were over $120.  I told her that I would buy the jeans for her but not at the GAP but at one of the two French stores in town.

When she inquired which one. . .I told her either Pen-ney or Tar-ge(t).  She protested and said it wouldn’t be the same.  I told her I would cut holes in the knees she still protested saying they wouldn’t have the label.

I told her I would create her own label for the back of her jeans and it would read “Babygirl’s Britches.”

From grammar school through college we have been buying school clothes because the others wore out or were out grown.

However, that wasn’t the case for the children of Israel.  Twice in Deuteronomy were told that the clothes of the children of Israel never wore out.

Deuteronomy 8:4 in the New Living Translation says:

“For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell.”

Not only did their clothes never wear out. . .neither did their shoes.

Deuteronomy 29:5 in the New Living Translation says:

“For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.”

4.         Nobody ate bread but they lived well.

Truthfully, in our contemporary culture we would be healthier if we curtailed our consumption of bread. . .especially, bread made with white flour.

In Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, the children of Israel are specifically instructed to eat bread without yeast during the celebration of Passover.  They eat bread without yeast because on the night the death angel Passover the bread didn’t have time for the bread to rise.

In fact, the scriptures are very specific on how to prepare such bread.

Yet, during the forty years in the wilderness. . .the children of Israel did not eat any bread.

 Deuteronomy 29:6 in the Message Bible says:

“. . . you lived well without bread. . .”

No bread. . .but the children of Israel lived well.

Exodus 16:15 in the Amplified Bible says:

“When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, Manna [What is it?]. For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”

5.         Nobody had wine or beer but they didn’t lack for something to drink.

Deuteronomy 29:6 in the Amplified Bible says:

“. . .nor have you drunk wine or strong drink. . ..”

The Hebrew word for strong drink is shekar (H7941) and it means:

“strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor.”

At a time when God was trying to find the heart of His chosen people. . .how they would act and react to adversity and opportunity. . .He didn’t want them living in a buzz.

However, God provided water for the children of Israel throughout their wanderings in the wilderness.

6.         Nobody would ever doubt who their loving and protecting God was because of what He did for them.

God fed them with manna from heaven every day they were in the wilderness.

God provided water for them out of a rock.

God protected them from the heat of day and the cold of night.

God kept their clothing, shoes and tents from wearing out.

God gave them victory over enemy after enemy.

The children of Israel had to rely on God for everything as they were completely without any measure of support for their survival.

God met their needs of the children of Israel so completely they took Him for granted.  They even become bored while in the wilderness.

Do you value God’s provisions in your life?  Are you taking Him for granted even while you’re traveling through the wilderness?

If you want to escape from your wilderness experience. . .financial or otherwise. . .you must recognize what God is already doing for you.

May I suggest that probably wouldn’t be a good idea. . .unless you want to wander in the wilderness for forty years never reaching your goal.

7.         Nobody will ever understand what He did for them without a change of heart. . .but you’d better. . .if you ever want to reach the Promised Lane.

Deuteronomy 29:5-6 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“I did these things so you would realize that I am your God." But the LORD must give you a change of heart before you truly understand what you have seen and heard.”

Years ago, there was a television show which I never watched. . .entitled “Charles In Charge.”

Here’s a revelation. . .Charles is not in charge and neither are you.

God Is In Charge.

Once you put God in charge. . .once you begin to realize what He’s doing for you and why. . .then you’re taking your first real steps out of the wilderness.

Sadly, many people think they’re the creators of their own destiny. . .and while you are. . .you aren’t.

Yes, you have to show initiative and yes, you need to be motivated to achieve success. . .you would never succeed without His promises, precepts and presence.

You and I need to have a heart change to realize. . .first, the good things He wants in our lives. . .second, that He’s ready to help us move from glory unto glory and lastly, His desire for us to give Him the glory and honor He so richly deserves.

When we finally begin to understand, acknowledge, accept and act upon the knowledge that He is the source of our deliverance. . .then and only then. . .can we begin our journey to financial freedom. . .and the promised land of His abundance.

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