1 Kings 10:1-29; Jeremiah 18:1-23; Philippians 3:1-4:1
The Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart. Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV
God does not always explain the reason for difficult times in life. But here, He does reveal His purpose for Israel during their years in the wilderness. He desired to humble them, to test them, to teach them to value His Word and to bring out what was in their hearts. And a little later, He assures them that these events were to do them good in the end (v 16). So too for us. —Gary McBride
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still. —A. Pollard