Wonderings

Recently I heard a sermon where the preacher suggested a reason for the Israelites 40 year desert wonderings was in order to get the Egyptian culture out of them. The Israelites had been in Egypt for such a long time and had absorbed so much of its culture they could no longer be recognized as the chosen children of the Most High God. So much did the culture overtake what God had instilled in them that it took 40 years for the “culture cleansing” process to be accomplished.  Influence, good or bad, has a way of lingering from one generation to another.
I sometime think God uses the wonderings of our lives, those situations we question that come into our life journey, to cleanse our pre-conceived ideas of how and when He SHOULD work in and through us. In doing this, God once again seems to remind us that He alone, not the “action”, is to be our heart's desire. He will lead us into the land of His promise that He prepared for us way before we were even born.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Eph 1:11
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
It is in this land of His promise we will reveal to those around us who God is and the blessed hope he has for them. But this can only happen as we take on His character---His culture.

And as with the Israelites we too may think the process, the journey is taking way too long. But God's timing is perfect in ALL things...even in our wonderings.