Deuteronomy 1:6 NKJV - ““The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.”
After many of the original group of Israelites who left Egypt had died, Moses addressed the younger generation and recalled the story of their journey from Egypt to the Jordan River. The first group did not make it to the Promised Land because they kept rebelling against God. Every time they faced a challenge they blamed Moses and showed no trust in God despite the fact that He had proven Himself faithful time and time again. They were at Mount Horeb for a long time when God said it was time to move toward their inheritance. They would not have been there that long if they had been obedient. I believe they could have made it if they reacted differently to their challenges. Instead of blaming Moses and turning away from God’s commands every time they faced difficulty, they could have recalled all God had done for them and and asked Moses to pray for a miracle from their miracle-working God who had come through for them every time they faced a challenge. He performed mighty signs and delivered them out of Egypt. He parted the Red Sea. He fed them with bread from Heaven and brought water our of the Rock. They never mentioned any of those things when a new challenge came up. They always asked, “Why?”
I spoke with someone recently who was facing a health challenge and were in the same mode - “Why?” Suddenly, I saw something I had not seen before. What they were doing is what most of us in the Church do and it’s the same thing the Israelites did that caused them not to make it into the Promised Land. When we face health challenges, we put a human (doctor) or our own brains first and go to God as a last resort. Even when we really turn our attention to the Lord, it’s after we have consulted a doctor, not before. The apostle called James told the Christians to call the elders of the church if they were sick (James 5:14-15). This was a way of seeking God first since the elders were representatives of Christ. James nor any other apostle in their writings referred anyone to a human physician. We’ve come a long way in the wrong way. God loves us and meets us where we are in His mercy, so we see His grace operating for us even when we go to a doctor. However, until things turn around significantly in this area and God becomes our physician as He desired to be, we will be at this mountain and going around it over and over again. We will keep asking “Why?” like the Israelites did and we will not make any progress to the Promised Land of redemption and divine health. Let’s start today to put God first as our healthcare provider. Instead of asking “Why?” let us rehearse what He has already done for us. Many of us know we would not be alive today had it not been for the mercy and grace of God. So, for example, if we face a health challenge, let’s say, “Jehovah Rapha, You have healed me time and time again. You healed my toe, my skin, my back and more. This that I am facing is a light thing for you. Show me if there is anything You want me to do as I wait on you for another manifestation of your glory in my body.” Then let’s worship Him often as our Healer.