Wanderings

“As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come” Proverbs 26:1

Wanderings. Our tendency to move in an aimless direction without purpose or meaning but simply being pulled by the fleshly impulses of our migrant lusts. This is a dangerous place to be. Wanderings can lead us away from the nest, away from that safe place where God has placed us, away from truth, and away from what is right. Being where you should not be, leaving, flying, from your nest, yearning for what is not yours, the whole idea of wandering is moving into a place where you should not be, being led by a force that is not good, and not of God. The curse that ensues has a cause. Wanderings have the notion of being driven by discontent, and ingratitude. “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, a rod for the fool’s back.” God has chastisement in the form of curses for those who would be fools.

I’ve often pondered the winding path life seems to unfold. Why do things happen as they do? Why is it so hard to see, and have foresight into our future wanderings and avoid them if possible to preserve what might have been, what was intended to be. I don’t have the answers. This verse about wanderings causes one to pause in light of such curses that inevitably come, and to consider our steps, to sincerely evaluate our motives.

The Bible would seem to be sending a stern warning to the wandering soul, to notice our direction and not move frivilously in a world where curses abound and surely causeless shall not come. Our actions have consequences, and we do reap what we sow, more than we sow, later than we sow. The most sobering prospect of all, is perhaps the reality that time is short, life passes quickly and our wanderings may lead us to an end, in which there is no time left, to right the ship. King Saul suffered such an end, and we can learn from his life what a curse can bring. Though he was the Lord’s anointed, his life did not end well. Could he not forsee where his wanderings would lead?

Prone to wander, OH I feel it! Will my soul so quickly depart from thee? Only God can anchor our wandering souls. Only God can rescue us from our meaningless drifting and the inevitable curses which will result. God sees all. We must trust Him, when life doesn’t make sense, and we are tempted to ” fix” it, Wait on the Lord! “My defense is God, which saveth the upright in heart.”

Sometimes the hardest thing to do, is wait. Wait on the Lord. You shall yet praise Him. “Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give thee the desires of thy heart.”

Let us learn contentment, acceptance, gratefulness and peace. God will surely bless those who wait upon Him.