Wilderness of Engedi

 

David had been used of God to help Israel defeat Goliath and the Philistines. That experience was an image of what was going to happen much later; a transfer of authority to the man David. Eventually, David became the anointed one of God to lead God’s people after Saul was rejected for his disobedience. Saul became vexed and would do anything to have David executed. The fact that David’s victory was being talked about made him more furious.

 

David had to flee for his life to a place where he was surrounded by ordinary men who had no clear and fantastic family history.

 

“And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him”. 1Sam 22:2

 

He and his men never had a permanent place to stay. His destination was the throne but the route was the wilderness. They fled from one cave to another cave just to stay safe from the attack of king Saul.

Now, to my message to you this week…

They got to the wilderness of Engedi. This is the wilderness of proof!

 

David got to the point Saul was right before him and his men. This was Saul who had tried to kill David on many occasions. Saul was asleep and all David needed to do was to end the chase immediately at that point by executing Saul and he would automatically become the king. In fact, his men began to quote the word of God to him in that instance…

 

“Now is your time David’s men whispered to him. Today is the day the Lord was talking about when he said, I will certainly put Saul into your power, to do with as you wish”. Then David crept forward and quietly slit off the bottom of Saul’s robe! But then his conscience began bothering him. I shouldn’t have done it, he said to his men, it is a serious sin to attack God’s chosen king in any way”. 1 Sam 24:4-6

 

In the wilderness of Engedi, a man is left with what is justifiable and what is the statute of God’s word. It is the point of either letting God have the way or doing as it feels. And the only thing that helped David win in this phase was that he knew the statute of God’s order. His men didn’t know but he knew it was against God’s order to attack God’s chosen king even though the same king is after his life. That launched David into another level of mastery.

If you are not conversant with the word, you might listen to your men who are also ignorant of God’s statute when in your wilderness of Engedi. Forgiveness becomes easy when it is a matter of God’s order and not how it feels. This is your test for mastery, don’t fail at it.

 

You must go about your day putting the word above your right. This is how to live victoriously even in the presence of the storm. After the wilderness, there is a throne. The throne is only preserved for a man that has been tested.

 

Go this week engaging the statute of God as expressed in His word. It preserves.

 

Be Innovated,

Olufemi Ibitoye