Road Trip
Image: Microsoft 365 Copilot
Last weekend my wife and I went on a road trip. We drove to Teesside and back, for a friend’s family wedding. We also had arranged to visit some other friends in Leeds, on the way up north.
We set off Friday morning and after an hour the traffic slowed. We crawled along for some time, enjoying the warm weather, countryside and listening to music.
We made it to our friends in Leeds and had a great time catching up, talking late into the night. The next day we put on our wedding clothes and headed to the church building.
It was a beautiful and wonderful wedding and was lovely to celebrate with the Bride & Groom and to see so many old friends.
After spending the night in a local hotel, we set of for the return journey. After six hours driving we arrived safely, full of gratitude if not a little weary!
As I reflected on the weekend, I realised that I had not driven that far for a long time, and was reminded of the long journey Israel took, recorded in the book of Exodus.
Then I read Psalm 90, which is a prayer of Moses, the faithful, humble leader who led Israel for 40 years on their epic journey! In all those years, as they moved around, where was God, did they get to Him? Moses knew and wrote…
“Lord, you have been our dwelling-place throughout all generations.”
God was not a destination, instead, He was with Israel on their journey. They did build a Tabernacle which was used as a place of worship. The Hebrew word for Tabernacle is ‘mishkan’, which means ‘residence’ or ‘to dwell’.
God dwelt with Israel on their 40 year journey and Moses spoke regularly with God. This was relational living - they journeyed together.
It’s a great picture for us. We don’t need to build Tabernacles or Temples to be with God, as He promised to dwell inside His people by His Holy Spirit. In other words, God wants to be with us and have a relationship with us in the whole of life.
Today, God is not a destination, somewhere we have to try and get to. Instead He is a God who wants to dwell with and do life with us.
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader