whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
The first wanderer in the Bible was Cain. He was called a vagabond.
"Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;" Psalm 107:4
The Exodus route could have been done in 11 days. Why did it take such a long time? The Israelites had to learn to become God's people.
2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not." Deuteronomy 8:2
To learn about God and learn how to live. I AM=I Am who I am and who I've always been.
Why did Israel wander?
34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’" Numbers 14:34
"These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit. 2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes. 3 For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them." Joshua 14:1-3
They didn't get it. They wanted to be slaves -- taken care of, not have to think, not have to be challenged. Just comfortable. Our minds wander too. While they wandered away from God, God didn't abandon them. Even though they were under a curse, He still took care of them, provides miraculously for them.
7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’ Deuteronomy 2:7
"I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet." Deuteronomy 29:5
We weren't meant to wander. We were meant to have roots.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
The roots of the trees grow toward the water. Turn our roots -- grow toward God. In the Bible, God is referred to as the Anchor, the Rock, the Fortress -- adjectives that don't move or wander.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He restores my soul." Psalm 23:1-3a
Caution-- don't leave the fortress.
"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard," Hebrews 2:1-3
Nobody intends to give up the good for the bad. It doesn't take a big thing to drift away -- starts with a tiny thing often. Marriage was created by God -- one man and one woman united in the eyes of God. It's a big deal to God. If we don't pay close attention to what we hear we will drift away. How can God help you if you don't listen to him? If you're not in the Word, you're in dangekr of wandering off.
Yet, still we wander.
"All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
"3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
We don't get to pick and choose what we accept from the Bible. Give people time to follow God.
God grabbed us when we were wanderers. Little things can devastate, a little bit of gossip.
Application #1 -- Those who wander are wanted back.
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." Luke 15:4-7
Application #2 -- We should call them back
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20
Application #3 -- Keep your root firm in Jesus.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
We don't/can't produce fruit without Jesus.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7
Go back to the Word constantly; abound in Thanksgiving. Everybody needs to come home.