Circling The Mountain

Posted by Dion Todd May 19th, 2024 1,166 Views 22 Comments

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Yahweh spoke to me; and we encircled Mount Seir many days. Yahweh spoke to me, saying, "You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward. Deuteronomy 2:1-3 WEB.

The Israelites wandered forty years in the wilderness while God worked out some differences with them. Twice while repeatedly circling a mountain, they reached a point when it was time for them to move on.

God told them in Deuteronomy 1:6, "You have lived long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey." They should have entered the promised land at that point, but when the spies sent out from their camp returned with a bad report, they decided to stone Moses and Aaron and return to Egypt instead.

The Lord interrupted their plan and told them to head toward the Red Sea (Deuteronomy 1:40). When they heard that, they decided they did want to enter the promised land after all but were soundly defeated at the first battle. After this, they left and circled Mount Seir for "many days." When the entire rebellious generation had died off, the Lord told them in Deuteronomy 2:1, "You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward." It's time to move on.

We often huddle around a mountain in our life, circling it. We cannot move on because of __________. It begins to affect everything we do and influence our decisions. It holds us back. We cry out for God to help, but we won't let go of it. Our prayers fail because you can only drive an anchored boat in a circle. We have to cut loose the anchor.

We frequently meet people trapped in a bad situation because they cannot let go of something. They act like a fish holding on to a hook with their lips and will not let go. Eventually, there comes a time when they get tired of circling that same mountain again and again while just growing older, and they make the change. It's just such a struggle to let it go.

If you want to see something different in your life, do something different. If you have been trying to make a peach cobbler for years, but it always comes out as an apple, it's time to try a new recipe. Someone wise once said, Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting to get a different result. It may be time to stop circling the same mountain.

Give God something to work with today. Leave the mountain behind you and do what you have been putting off. It is time to turn and take your journey.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give me a clear vision of changing my life for the better. Help me overcome the obstacles holding me back. Set me free from this endless loop. Help me break the bondage and breakthrough. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Happy Sunday :)! For those who would like to join us, today we will be hosting our RHM Live Online church service. This is a special time of worship, prayer, fellowship and an inspiring message. All are welcome! The service starts at 10am EDT. Here is the link to join: RHM Live