The Terrible Wilderness, Pt. 3 - No. 142

Song of Songs 8:5; “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?

We have been discovering all the wonderful things that God did for the children of Israel in the desert. “But that was just for them,” you say. “Can God do these things personally for me?”

Let’s look at some personal testimonies.

The desert is where God prepares us for His purposes for our lives.

It was in the desert, the deepest part of the desert, that Moses had an encounter with the mighty God. He stood on holy ground in the desert. God kept him in that desert for forty long years, but he came out ready to deliver a nation from the tyranny of Egypt. (Acts 7:30-38)

David was forced into the desert to hide from the wrath of King Saul, but while in that desert he raised an army of men. The wilderness is a training ground for the battle. (1 Samuel 22:2; 23:14-15, 24:1; 26:3; 1 Chronicles 12:1-15)  

John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Lord in the wilderness. (Mark 1:1-7; Luke 1:15-17, 80)

After Paul’s conversion, he went into seclusion -- into the desert of Arabia, where he heard “unspeakable words” from God.  I wonder if he went to Horeb, the Mountain of God, where Moses met God. (2 Corinthians 12:1-7; Galatians 1:17)

The desert is where we learn to overcome.

Jesus won the victory over Satan in the wilderness and came forth to minister in the power of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 4:1-11) Notice that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. He was not out of God’s will but in the very center of His will while in the desert.

The desert is where we lose the lure for the things of the world.

After being in the desert for 40 years, Moses went right back into the pride and wealth of Egypt, but it had no hold upon him. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

The desert is where we learn to walk by faith.

Psalm 78:16-18 says, “And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, ‘Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?’”

They did not believe God could provide for them. But God did not let them out of the desert until they had learned the walk of faith.

The desert is where we learn dependence upon God.

Oh what a beautiful picture we see of the bride of Christ in Song of Solomon 8:5, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?”

During the wilderness experience, God’s people found that it didn’t work to rely on their own strength. They learned in the desert to rely totally on God’s strength. There was no other way. Moses tried to help his people in his own strength when he killed the Egyptian, but it failed. God had to work on him for 40 years in the desert before he was ready to deliver his people from the power of Egypt.

It’s your attitude!

Are you going through a difficult wilderness experience right now? Don’t despair. You are going through your wilderness. Yes, you are going through! There is an end! But according to your attitude to your problems you will either die (spiritually) in your wilderness or come out victorious. Or you will either come out hurt and bitter, or with the sweet anointing of the presence of God upon you.

Because the children of Israel were full of unbelief, and grumbled and complained about their hardships the challenges they had to face, they all died in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb came through!

Joshua came forth to lead God’s people into battle and to take the Promised Land. (Joshua 1:6-7)

Caleb came forth ready to take mountains and tackle giants. (Joshua 14:6-15)

David came forth ready to reign over God’s people, Israel. (2 Samuel 5:3)

Paul came forth to be a mighty apostle.

How will you come through?

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

 

PRAYER:

“I thank you, Lord that you are bringing me through the wilderness. Please help me to have the right attitude. Help me to see that this is all part of your plan and that you are preparing me for your purposes. Amen.”

 

AFFIRMATION: