Nehemiah 9:19-20
"Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on the road; nor the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way they should go. You also gave Your good spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst."
When we think of instruction, we normally consider the training we receive in school. However, there is another invaluable education available to every believer, that being, the instruction of the Holy Spirit.
For the children of Israel in the desert, their instruction was related to knowing the God who had called them to be his own and learning to depend on him for all their provision. For every believer, the instruction is much the same. We spend a lifetime of learning from the Spirit how much our Lord loves us, has provided for us in our salvation, and directs our paths.
And just like how much we learn in school is dependent on our effort to learn, so it is with the Holy Spirit. Unless we listen to the Spirit's instruction, work to apply his teaching to our life circumstances, and are willing to follow the Lord in obedience, we will not learn the lessons God has for us. It was that way with Israel, having to wander around forty years in the desert to learn the lessons of obedience.
One of the primary lessons every believer needs to learn is that of complete dependence upon our Father for his provision. The story of Israel in the desert teaches that lesson, and so did Christ in teaching us how to pray. Still, this is a hard lesson for us to learn. We'd rather take care of ourselves and bless ourselves with all our desires instead of waiting for the Lord's provision. But of course, that's why we need the Spirit's instruction!
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for your teaching Spirit. Open my ears to your instruction and my heart to your lessons. Amen.
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