From age 5 to 17, my family made an annual trek to Maine, spending a few weeks there each August. While we lived in New Jersey the first couple of years, most of our family vacations began in Delaware, a 9 hour trip by car from Wilmington to Lake Thompson in Maine. As an impatient child, I asked my parents every hour or so, “are we there yet?”
I can’t image being in a chariot, riding on the back of a donkey or walking from Egypt to the promised land. The Exodus out of Egypt was suppose to be a relatively short journey, 2-3 weeks on foot. However, a little complaining here, disobedience there and a whole lot of faithlessness turned a joyful journey into a real life nightmare. Not 1, not 2, not 3, but it took Israel 40 years to finally arrive to their cherished destination. I don’t know for sure, but many children likely shared a similar question in Hebrew, “are we there yet?”
I have been asking this same question to God since January, once I found out I would be losing my job at the end of the first semester. I can’t fathom the agony the children of Israel experienced on their way to Jericho. At the same time, the emotional toll the last 7 months has taken on my body, mind and spirit has been draining. I can’t much much more uncertainty. As I cry out to the Lord, “I am there yet,” my prayer is that God will reply, “not much longer, only a little while to go!”
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 