Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”
But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.

• Numbers 21:21-23

So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and traveled along the desert road of Moab.

• Deuteronomy 2:8

They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.

• 2 Samuel 4:7

The Scriptures all have the word “travel” in them.  Life means that some travel may be required, especially if we are doing God’s will.

But as you get older, it gets harder.  My wife and I were thoroughly exhausted driving from Pennsylvania to Tennessee recently.  We pretty much decided that we were too old for such things, but then we were playing with the grandchildren, and it did not matter how tired we were.

It took us two days to drive down.  We left immediately after kidney dialysis.  We drove about six hours and we arrived in Kentucky, south of Cincinnati, Ohio.  When we arrived at the hotel, my wife asked me three questions.

The first question: “We always get gas halfway between Columbus, Ohio and Cincinnati, Ohio.  Why did we not stop?”

My answer: “We didn’t need to stop.”

Her second question: “Well, then, how little gas do we have in the tank?”

My answer: “Almost half a tank.”

Her third question: “Then how did we get here?”

My answer: “God juice!”

And I really meant it.  I crunched the numbers, and I could not figure out how we got there with using that little gasoline.

Travel can be a nightmare.  Travel can be exhausting.  But then God let’s you know that He is still with us and He is helping us also.  This story reminded me of Elisha and the Oil.  As long as the widow kept tipping the bottle, the oil kept pouring.  Maybe that is how God did it for us.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.