Besor Ravine

Besor Ravine.Sounds familiar?Probably not.It is probably one of the least spoken of places in the Bible.But a great lesson can be learnt from the story that took place in this place.
The story takes place in 1Samuel30,when the Amalekites raided Negev and Zigklag,where David and his men were resting while David was leaving the Philistine army which he had followed.the Amalekites had raided the town and taken every child and woman,young and old,captive.Each of David's men was bitter in spirit,because David was the one who had commanded them to leave to join the Philistines and leave the women and children behind.They talked of stoning David,and he was distressed,but he found strength in the Lord.
After David consulted God about whether he should pursue the Amalekites,which God said yes he should,David brought six hundred men with him.The army came to Besor Ravine,which is something like a river,and two hundred men stayed behind,because they were too tired to continue.But David and his men continued on the pursuit.The story continues as David manages to conquer the Amalekites and rescue the children and women.When David and the four hundred men return to besor Ravine where the two hundred men lie,some of the four hundred men who had went on the rescue requested that the plunder recovered not be shared with those who had stayed behind.But "David replied,'No,my brothers,you must not do that with what the Lord has given us.He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us.Who will listen to what you say?The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle.All will share alike.'"(1Samuel30:23-24NIV)
If you were one of the men who stayed behind at Besor Ravine,what would have your feelings been?
If you had been one of the men who went down to battle,what would your feelings hav been?
This story illustrates what Moses said in Exodus14:14"The Lord will fight for you;you need only to be still".Friends you see,it is only natural to feel tired.In whatever you do,weariness is sure to catch up with you.But many of us don't know how to take a rest when it happens.We choose to rely on our own strength to complete the task.But friends today i want to encourage those who are feeling tired to take a rest.You see,the story in 1Samuel30 illustrates of how you can take a rest at Besor Ravine and how the Lord will go and fight for you.Friends,today look for a 'Besor Ravine' where you can really take a rest.Let's not rely on our own strength but let's start to allow God to be God,to reveal His power even in our weakness.

2Corinthians12:9-10 "But He said to me,'My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is is made perfect in your weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,so that God's power will rest on me.That is why,for Christ's sake,I delight in weakness,in insults,in hardships,in persecution,in difficulties.For when I am weak,then I am strong."

Isaiah40:30-31 "Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength .They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint."

Friends,today let's stop relying on our own strength to complete the race of life.Rather let's start relying on God's strength.Friends at times we may feel small and weak,that's only natural,but that's only because we serve a great God who is far bigger and stronger than us!Let's run not on our fuel,but let's run on God's fuel,because we know that it will not run out.



Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I've found in You
And Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love

CHORUS
Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me
And Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
By the power of Your love

REPEAT CHORUS

(Draw me close
Hold me near
Draw me closer
Hold me near
You draw me close to You
And never let me go)

And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love
In the power of Your love