Manifold Mercies

“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.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.9.19.nkjv

Wilderness experience is often considered a despicable distraction from the goal of success and achievement in life. The normal reactions, especially due to a prolonged wait for the expected light at the end of the tunnel, include murmuring, blame game, provocations, loss of vision, indifference, intolerance, and general discouragement. But as rightly reflected by the children of Israel, after the rebuilding of the broken walls of Jerusalem, wilderness experience is expected to reveal the manifold mercies of God. There were many manifestations, including a sufficient pillar of the cloud for the scorching sun in their days; a luminous pillar of fire for the darkened night; abundant manna from heaven to cater for the drought along the way; a refreshing water from the rock, whenever the patches of water from the ground disappear, etc. Unfortunately, man is specialized in focussing on despicable distraction, rather than appreciating the manifold mercies of God, in his perceived moments of weird wilderness. Whereas, God is never weary from waiting on man with His manifold mercies, until the heart is fully purged from its despicable idol.