A barrier can be an obstruction or anything that confines or hinders
approach, or even attack. It is a bar to mark the limits of a place; a
boundary or a line of separation. Given that thought, what barriers might
you face in your life right now? How can barriers help us grow?
Judges 3:4, “ And they were to prove Israel by them, toknow whether they
would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their
fathers by the hand of Moses.”
Barriers can be challenges to rise above. We learn from an earlier chapter
that these enemy nations were still in the land because the Israelites
had failed to obey God and drive them out. Now God would allow the enemies
to remain in order to “test” the Israelites; that is, to give them an
opportunity to implement faith and obedience. Ladies, there are times
when the Lord uses the wall of differences to reveal to us our own hearts,
whether they are well equipped or not. By now the younger generation that
had not fought in the great battles of conquest was coming of age. It
was their job to complete the conquest of the land… Naturally, there were
many obstacles yet to be overcome in their new homeland. Would the Israelites
break down the walls of difference between themselves and the Jews, or
would they wait for the Lord to change their neighbors… How they would
handle such a barrier would be ananalysis of their faith.
Barriers also remind us to rely on God. How do you typically react when
a higher authority has marked your limits? Perhaps God has left certain
obstacles in your life - hostile people, difficult situations, and baffling
problems – in order to allow you to develop faith in and obedience to
Him. With the Lord’s help, you can prevail over the walls of separation
by learning to rest in His boundaries.
Deut. 1:29-31, “Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of
them. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you,
according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; And in
the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee,
as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came
into this place.”
God is greater than any barrier. The spies were not sent into the land
to determine whether they should enter, but where they should enter. Upon
returning, however,most of these scouts concluded that the land was not
worth the obstacles. God said He would give the Israelites the power to
conquer the land, but they were afraid of the risk and decided not to
enter. Sounds familiar, does it not? Manyof us have met up with barriers
that we have decided not to contend with at one time or another. So too,
God gives us the power to overcome our barriers, but like the Israelites
who were filled with fear and doubt, we often let difficulties control
our life and rarely triumph over them! Following God, regardless of the
obscurity, is the only way to develop courageous, overcoming faith and
turn our barriers into blessings in disguise!
Matthew 27:51, “And, behold, the veil of the temple wasrent in twain from
the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and therocks rent;”
God has already destroyed the greatest barrier. The temple had three main
parts - the courts, the Holy Place (where only the priests couldenter),
and the Most Holy Place (where only the high priest could enter, and only
once a year, to atone for the sins of the nation, according to Leviticus16:1-35).
The curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn
in two at Christ’s death, symbolizing that the barrier between God and
humanity was removed. Now all people are free to approach the Lord because
of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Jesus crossed all barriers to share
the gospel, and we who follow Him must do no less. This realization alone
should give us hope in any barrier that we might be facing today. Ladies,
life is full of natural, artifical and even spiritual barriers, but they
ought not ever be allowed to block our approach to the Savior! If you’ve
been in the habit of trying to veil the obstacles you meet up with, you’ll
find that they can only be buried alive and are still active within you,
working to build a blockade between you and the Lord. You must reside
with God in faith to be at peace with your barriers. Stand up and go only
where He would have you!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello
