Together - Daily DevotionalSample

The Church in the Wilderness

Reading: Acts 7: 30-38

Key Verse: “ This is he [Moses]that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him in the mount Sina ...” v.38 KJV

In today’s Key Verse we have another use of the word EKKLESIA which is translated “church” in the KJV and “congregation” in the NIV. The reference is to the nation of Israel who had become enslaved in Egypt and were subjected to great suffering. God sent a man called Moses to represent Him and lead the Israelites out of Egypt to a promised land of blessing. Between Egypt and the Promised Land was a wilderness where the Israelites lived for 40 years because disobedience delayed them from directly entering the land. It was this group of people who were referred to as “the church in the wilderness”.

The Israelites had been called out of Egypt to be together on a journey for the purpose of enjoying and cultivating God’s provision thus demonstrating the greatness and blessing of God to other nations. As such this group of people could be accurately described as an EKKLESIA church – an assembly of people who had been called out together for a purpose. It is another example of where EKKLESIA church is a word applied to a group of people and not a building.

We too have been called out to journey together to demonstrate God’s blessing to others.

Prayer: Lord help me form relationships with others as I journey with them and enjoy Your love and blessings