ARE YOU IN A WILDERNESS?
Part 1

“The Lord thy God . . . Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness,
wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought . . .
that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end”
(Deuteronomy 8:14-16). 

Are you going through a desert time in your life? Does it seem a “great and terrible” experience? Perhaps you feel as though God has forsaken you. Your life seems dry and meaningless.

Please don’t despair. Your wilderness experience is not a time to grovel and complain. It is your opportunity to see the power and provision of God. You can experience more miracles from God in your wilderness than at any other time. The children of Israel did not accidentally land up in the wilderness. God led in—they were in His perfect will.

Granted, it was not a smooth road! They faced serpents and scorpions. They endured hunger and thirst. They could not survive without the help of God. Nor can you. But look up! As you take your eyes off the “terrible” wilderness and trust in God, you will be in for some SURPRISES.

Let me show you want happens in the wilderness.

1. GOD LED HIS PEOPLE INTO THE WILDERNESS

God led His people into the wilderness, through the wilderness, and out of the wilderness. He will lead you through your wilderness too. And remember, your wilderness is only for a season. His plan is to prove you in your wilderness so He can bring you out into a good place. The above Scripture says: “that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.” Look beyond your difficulties to where God is taking you.

2. GOD GUIDED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 78:52 tells us that God “guided them in the wilderness like a flock.” All through the wilderness God guided His people like a shepherd. Trust God. He is guiding you in your wilderness too.

3. GOD INSTRUCTED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Deuteronomy 32:10 tells us that “He instructed him.” The Hebrew word for “instruct” is “bin” which means “understanding, insight, and discernment.” You will have insight into God’s ways in your wilderness experience far more than when you are on the easy path.

God had much to teach His people in the wilderness. They weren’t ready to live in the Promised Land when they first came out of Egypt. They were still a broken people. They had a slave mentality. He had to ingrain into them His laws, statutes, and commandments and make them into a set-apart, holy people with a conquering spirit.

Moses lived 40 years in Pharaoh’s household in the education of Egypt. God had to take him out into the wilderness into Jethro’s household for 40 years to unlearn his humanistic education and receive God’s education. It happened again when Moses brought out the Israelites from Egypt. They needed 40 years to unlearn their Egyptian ways and change their Egyptian mindset to God’s mindset.

Sometimes God has to take us into the wilderness to unlearn much of our worldly education and to open our hearts and minds to His ways (Isaiah 55:8, 9). God cannot use us for His purposes until we are filled with His truth and understand His ways.

4. GOD SPOKE TO HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:13 (NASB) states: “You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments.”

Isn’t this amazing? They were out in the wilderness, but God spoke to them from Heaven! What more could you want? Sometimes God takes you into a desert place in your life so that you can hear Him speak to you. The desert is quiet and free from distractions. You can hear His voice more clearly than when taken up with the “successful” busy rat-race of this life.

Where did God speak to Moses and give him direction to deliver His people from the Egyptians? Out in the backside of the desert (Exodus 3:1-14). Sometimes you may think you are in a wilderness hidden away in your home. Well, look forward to God speaking to you!

Let’s look at some ways God speaks in the wilderness.

SHAKINGLY. “The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh” (Psalm 29:8 NASB). God gets your attention in the wilderness. Sometimes He may have to shake you up!

FACE TO FACE. “I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God” (Ezekiel 20: 35, 36). Sometimes God takes you into the wilderness in order to plead with you face to face.

TENDERLY AND KINDLY. “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:14 ESV).

PROPHETICALLY. Balak, the king of Moab, was afraid of the children of Israel. Therefore He asked Balaam, a prophet, to come and prophecy curses over God’s people. However, every time Balaam opened his mouth, God spoke His words of blessing through his mouth. Four times he spoke powerful and prophetic blessings over Israel and even spoke of the coming of Jesus saying, “there will come a Star of Jacob.” Read all the great prophetic words in Numbers 23:8-10; 18-24; 24:1-9; and 15-19.

Expect God to speak to you prophetically in your wilderness too.

More SURPRISES next week.   

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord God, I thought I was finished, but now I see this is just the beginning of Your dealings with me. I thank You that even in my hopeless situation You will speak to me and reveal more of Yourself to me. I am listening, dear Father. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Even in my desert times I am listening for God to speak to me.

 

Further Study:

God led His people throughout their whole journey in the wilderness:

Exodus 13:8; 29:42; Deuteronomy 8:2, 15; 29:5; 32:10; Nehemiah 9:12, 19; Psalm 78:53; 136:16; and Amos 2:10.