Latihan Padang Gurun (Desert Training)

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Available version: Indonesian | English

Versi Indonesia
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 06-29-2009

"Ya Allah, Engkaulah Allahku, kucari dan kurindukan Engkau. Seperti tanah tandus haus akan air, begitulah aku haus akan Dikau." (Maz. 63:1-2)

Padang gurun memiliki makna khusus di dalam firman Tuhan. Alkitab menggambarkan padang gurun sebagai tempat di mana inspirasi dan kemuliaan diberikan -- tempat di mana orang bertemu dengan Allah lewat cara yang baru dan luar biasa. Raja Daud menulis Mazmur 63 ini ketika sedang terasing di padang gurun Yehuda karena diburu oleh anaknya sendiri, Absalom, yang ingin merebut tahta Raja Israel dari Daud.

Bagi Yusuf, sebuah sumur yang dalam di tengah padang gurun merupakan awal perjalanan 13 tahun yang dipenuhi kesepian dan keputusasaan. Pengalaman padang gurun selama 13 tahun itu dipakai Allah untuk mengikis keegoisan dan kesombongan Yusuf. Pengalaman itu mengajari Yusuf bahwa ia tidak memegang kendali atas seluruh hidupnya sehingga ia harus mengandalkan Allah untuk mengatur perjalanan hidupnya. Ujian padang gurun yang dialami Yusuf mempersiapkan ia dengan mengahancurkan seluruh kebanggaan dan keangkuhan dirinya. Sehingga pada umur 30 tahun ia mampu memerintah Mesir di sisi Firaun dengan kerendahan hati dan hati hamba yang sempurna.

Sebelum menjadi Raja Israel, Daud adalah seorang gembala domba. Latihan kepemimpinan yang diberikan kepada Daud saat itu meliputi pertarungan tangan kosong melawan binatang-binatang buas di alam liar, seperti singa dan beruang. Elia belajar tentang prinsip kepemimpinan rohani selama di padang gurun Gilead. Dan Yesus sendiri dicobai dan diuji selama 40 hari di padang gurun sebelum Ia mulai melayani.

Mungkin mimpi yang pernah Allah berikan kepada Anda saat ini terlihat layu dan hampir mati di bawah panas matahari gurun yang menghanguskan. Anda mungkin merasa Allah meninggalkan Anda dan tidak lagi mendengarkan doa-doa Anda. Tapi saya ingin Anda tahu bahwa sesungguhnya mimpi itu masih hidup. Allah juga ada bersama-sama Anda meskipun Anda tidak dapat melihat-Nya, mendengar-Nya ataupun merasakan keberadaan-Nya. Karena sesungguhnya Allah sedang melatih dan mempersiapkan Anda di padang gurun.

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Available version: Indonesian | English

English (Original) Version
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
06-29-2009

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Ps. 63:1)

The desert holds a special place in God's Word. The Scriptures portray the desert as a place of inspiration and exaltation - a place where people met God in a powerful new way. King David wrote the 63rd Psalm while in exile in the Desert of Judah. He was hiding from his son Absalom, who wanted to replace him as king of Israel.

For Joseph, a deep pit in the desert was the first stop on a 13-year journey through desolation and despair. That 13-year desert experience served to break Joseph's self-will and self-confidence. It taught him that he could not control anything and that he needed to rely on God to manage the events in his life. Joseph's desert trial prepared him by scorching the youthful pride and arrogance out of his young life so that when he was 30 years old he could rule Egypt at Pharaoh's side in a spirit of humility and servant-hood.

Before becoming king of Israel, David was a shepherd. Part of his training for leadership involved hand-to-claw combat with the beasts of the wilderness, including the lion and the bear. Elijah learned the principles of spiritual leadership while in the wilderness of Gilead. And Jesus was tempted and tested for 40 days in the desert before He began to preach.

Perhaps God has given you a dream, but now it seems that your dream has withered and died under the scorching desert sun. It seems that God has gone away and is not listening to your prayers. But I want you to know that that your dream still lives. God is with you, even if you can't see Him, hear Him or sense His presence. He is preparing you in the desert.