–Micah 6:8 (ESV)
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People live a temporary life, wanting temporary goods, and seeking temporary wealth and fame.  Bob Beasley writes, “As temporal wealth increases, so does our desire for more.  Likewise, a rich person’s worry increases as he fears losing what he has.  And happiness?  At best, the happiness that money might bring is fickle and fleeting.  Money, when set up as an idol, cannot deliver what it promises.  Only God and the wealth of His wisdom can truly satisfy and fill all our needs.”  This morning we contemplate more of Proverbs 8.

           18 — Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.
           19 — My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
           20 — I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
           21 — That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.  (NKJV)

     What is the true wealth that is better than silver and gold?  It starts by walking in the way of righteousness and the paths of justice.  James says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (3:17, NKJV)  We see then that the wealth that God brings, the kind of wealth that satisfies and brings contentment is:  joy (Ps 21:6), peace (Phil 4:7), patience (Jam 1:2-3), kindness (Col 3:13), goodness (Pr 2:9), faithfulness (3 Jn 3), gentleness (1 Thess 2:7), self-control (1 Cor 7:5), and love (1 Cor 13).  See the picture?  True wealth then is the character of an individual exemplified by the Fruit of the Spirit.
     The Spirit does not give gold or silver; He does not trade in stocks and bonds, but leads in righteousness; a life of true contentment, “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19, ESV)  God gives “lasting riches of righteousness…noting that moral wealth is always superior to material wealth.” (Flores)  People who seek the wealth that the world offers find that it is not only temporary and fleeting, but illusionary as well.  Spurgeon said that these people walk in “unreality.”  “They walk as if the mocking images were substantial, like travelers in a mirage, soon to be filled with disappointment and despair.”  They dream about being satisfied while they are morally asleep. (Flores)
     Those who walk in righteousness find that special bond with Christ; they are “united to Him by strong and indissoluble ties.” (Edward Payson)  There is a similar character that brings closer affection.  When the Father sees the image of His Son in His children it pleases Him.  Jerome said that most “rich men” are either themselves bad men or are heirs of those that have been bad.  But those who follow the way of righteousness and the path of justice are walking with the Lord Himself.
     We need to remember where our treasure is and keep our focus on Jesus Christ, following the way of righteousness and justice.  Even if “man should gain the whole world, his appetite would not be perceptibly diminished, the void would be as great and the craving as keen as ever.” (William Arnot)  They are like the seagulls of “Finding Nemo” squawking, “More!  More!  More!”  Instead we are to, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)  I like the way the CEV translates this, “But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.”  J.B. Phillips puts it this way, “Set your heart on the kingdom and his goodness, and all these things will come to you as a matter of course.”  Get the picture?  When something is the desire of our heart, it will possess us totally; therefore, following righteousness and justice for a good sense of values is worth more than all the money in the world.  Love life and enjoy it every day by following the way of the Spirit.

                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Man From Skibbereen)

       “So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing.”
                    –Psalm 105:43 (NLT)
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Imagine, if you can, the spot that Moses found himself in.  He, through the power of God, had finally started on the way with the people of Israel.  He had stood up to Pharaoh, witnessing to Him the power of God, and now he found himself with a vast multitude of people.  Now, he is on the spot.  The sea before him stopping the advance of the people, and Pharaoh has had a change of mind and the army of Egypt is right behind them.  
     He has proclaimed, “Let my people go!” and now he stands on the edge of the sea.  He doesn’t blink, he doesn’t hesitate for he knows his God.  His God is Yahweh, the I AM and Moses is confident that the sea is nothing to Him.  He lifts his staff and the breath of the Lord parts the sea.  I’m sure the people gasped in awe at the event as they scurried to the other side.  Then Moses lowered his staff on the other side and the armies of Pharaoh were drowned.  What were the feelings of Moses?  Was he lifted up?  Proud, maybe a little haughty?  We have the answer in the Song of Moses found in Exodus 15.

          1 — I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously!  The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
          2 — The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God and I will exalt Him.
          3 — The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name.
          4 — Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
          5 — The depths have covered them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.
        11 — Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?  Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
        12 — You stretched out Your right hand; the earth swallowed them.
        13 — You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.
        17 — You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established.
        18 — The LORD shall reign forever and ever.   (NKJV)

     I would encourage you to take the time today to read the complete Song of Moses.  Get this, however, along with the other thoughts that you may gain from these verses, that the first thing Moses did after such a miraculous victory was to praise God.  There were many other things that needed to be done.  He had his “To Do” list but first and foremost he stopped to praise the Lord for such a wonderful salvation and victory.  
     God had rescued His people from Egypt.  What has God rescued you from?  Praise Him for the past victories.  Praise Him for the victory that will come your way in the darkest hour you may be facing.  Praise Him for what He is doing even though you cannot see it.  F.B. Meyer said, “Dare to believe that one day, when you know as you are known, you shall understand the lovingkindness that underlay your darkest experience.”  God is there with you in the darkness, in the storm, in the battle.  Then praise Him as He leads you forward into tomorrow knowing that what He has done for you in the past, He will continue to do to bring you home to glory.

               “When Moses and the Israelites from Egypt’s land did flee,
               Their enemies behind them and in front of them the sea;
               God raised the waters like a wall and opened up their way,
               And the God that lives in Moses’ time is just the same today.”
                      –J.C. Addie

                    –B.N. Rundell  (High Country)

       “Little children, let no one deceive you.  He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
                    –1 John 3:7 (NKJV)
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The last part of 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (NKJV)  If this is so, and it is, then why do so many Christians celebrate Halloween, and other days of evil?  There is something wrong when believers want to go back to “Egypt” and enjoy the pleasures of that land.  The old man was supposed to be removed, and yes, I know the fight with the flesh.  But there is a difference between a fight and the purposeful returning to the way of the world.  Paul writes, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Colossians 1:13, NKJV)  We are in a darkened world, but we are to be light to that world.  Darkness does try to overcome us, but we should not extinguish our light to join it.
     Know this–there is a real war going on for the hearts and souls of men.  Christians are not immune from that fight, in fact, they are more involved than before.  It is almost shameful that more believers do not recognize the fight that they are in, for the devil “seeks to do everything in his power to prevent us from living as true heirs of our Father’s eternal kingdom.  He is totally committed to disrupting and destroying what is means for us to be ‘imitators of God.'” (Alistair Begg)  Recognize and commit to the way of light, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8, NKJV)  Get that into your being–we are to walk as children of light.
     Listen!  Satan is a real and vicious enemy.  “He trades in doubt, division, and destruction.  He comes at us both morally and intellectually.  With the ferocity of a supernaturally empowered beast, he seeks to maul us and shred our faith to pieces.” (Begg)  Know this–Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil!  Yes he may prowl, he may roar, he may threaten, but we are secure in Christ.  We have the power to resist him (James 4:7).  
     Therefore, in this day of evil do not give into the whims of the devil.  As you walk the road to glory be aware of his schemes and traps.  Keep the light shining brightly on your path.  With that being said, do not long for Egypt.  Do not celebrate the things of the world.  Keep a standard that is higher than that of the world and do not get caught up in its pleasures.  “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:  Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10, NKJV)  Did you get that?  Do not practice unrighteousness.  Enough said!  Stand firm in this evil day and hour.

                    –Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
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Paul wrote what he did following his conversion, “But I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.  Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem.” (Galatians 1:17-18, NIV)  Most view this as Paul’s personal instruction time from the Lord.  Three years in the wilderness, and many of us cannot handle three hours.  As I have mentioned there are several kinds of wilderness experiences.  Some just happen, a storm comes your way; something that is beyond your control.  Then there is the wilderness that men face, such as Job, inflicted by the devil himself.  There are some wildernesses that we enter because we want the challenge, or we want to lose ourselves, or we want to learn.  These can come from within our being or they can be led by the Lord, such as Paul living in Arabia for three years to be instructed by Him.  Lord, have mercy, you could even be like John the Baptist and live your life in the wilderness.
     The wilderness can be a scary ordeal; do you dare take the first step?  Will you enter your personal Arabia, or go to the backside of the desert to find what God has for you?  The wilderness beckons, enter it at your own peril, but enter it you must.  You must also realize that when you enter and come out on the other side you will be a different person.  You will have added to your character, and gained knowledge and that valuable attribute–endurance.  Be forewarned, there are some that enter who will not survive the ordeal, or will attempt to renege and go back from when they came, back to the land of Egypt.
     Look at the definition of “wilderness.”
               1)  An unsettled, uncultivated region left in its natural condition.
                    a)  a large, wild tract of land covered with dense vegetation or forests;
                    b) an extensive area, such as a desert or ocean, that is barren, or empty, a waste;
                    c) a piece of land set aside to grow wild.
               2)  Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion.
Also, keep in mind that much of what we see, feel and experience in a natural wilderness or wasteland experience can be applied mentally and most importantly, spiritually.  It is important to realize that the wilderness beckons to all.  However, many do not heed the call, or even realize that the call is there.  Do not take the call or the journey lightly.  Jesus, when in the wilderness, was tempted by the devil; there were also wild beasts with which He had to contend, so much so, that the angel came and ministered unto Him.  Moses spent forty years learning the ways of the wilderness; then he had an encounter with “I AM,” and delivered the Israelites from bondage while taking them through another wilderness.
     Some enter the wilderness singing and dancing, celebrating, but soon find that it was not what they were expecting; that the conditions are not conducive to their wanting style of life.  It does not produce pogo-stick Christianity, but it does produce Christ-like results.  See, the wilderness is a place of trial, a place of learning.  It is a place of suffering and of bruising, whether it be the sole of your foot or the heart of your soul.  Some enter the wilderness because of a lark, a dare, or maybe even as part of an extreme sport experience.  Dangers, if they are mentioned are scoffed at; the warnings are considered foolish.  Later, you or others may come upon their sun-bleached bones (whether physical or spiritual) and all you can do is shake your head in pity.
     Notice the definition:  it is perilous, bewildering.  Do not become beguiled by the beauty, or the freedom, or the distances; for they can be illusionary.  There is often havoc and confusion in the wilderness; people may lose their way.  The unprepared, the naive, the scoffer and the mocker will find themselves in danger that often leads to death–the death of the old man.
     Ahhh, but the value of the wilderness experience is without compare.  Perhaps the shrinking wilderness is a cause for the lack of character in people today.  Dare talk of a spiritual wilderness and people will scowl at you, for they want excitement, frivolity, and ease.  That is not the way of the wilderness.  Some will cry out, “For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12)  Know this, without the cross, there can be no crown.  Others may become a voice, like John, crying out from the wilderness, “Prepare you the way of the Lord.”  Dare to follow the beckoning of the Spirit and enter.