ARE YOU IN A WILDERNESS?
Part 2

“Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness,
so that they lacked nothing;
their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell”
(Nehemiah 9:21).

When our daughter, Evangeline, gave birth to her eighth baby, she wanted to call her Sahara. At first her husband did not like the idea of calling her after the name of a desert. However, as they thought of all the mighty things that God does in the desert, they realized that it was an amazing name to call their child and they decided on the name of Sahara Oasis.

We continue to discover more wonderful surprises you will encounter in your wilderness experience. Claim these great promises. Lean on them. Confess them. Believe them.

1. GOD DID NOT FORSAKE HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Do you feel that God has forgotten you?

Be encouraged by these words: “They refused to listen, and did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; so they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. And You did not forsake them. Even when they made for themselves a calf of molten metal and said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ and committed great blasphemies, You, in your great compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness“ (Nehemiah 9:17-19 NASB).

Dear daughter of God, as you face trials and difficulties in your life, remember that God’s word is always true. You can claim this promise. He will not forsake you in your wilderness.

2. GOD MANIFESTED HIS PRESENCE IN THE WILDERNESS

The children of Israel had no shops, no marketplaces, no modern conveniences, and no lush fields to grow vegetables and yet God dwelt in their midst. In the tabernacle, which was in the center of the camp, God dwelt between the cheribims in the Holy of Holies in all His Shekinah glory. The children of Israel could look out at night and see the pillar of fire rising from above the Holy of Holies.

When they completed the tabernacle God came and filled it with His glory. This happened at other times too. They were privileged to see the glory of God in the wilderness (Exodus 40:34-38 and Numbers 14:10).

God said in Exodus 25:8: “Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”

God said in Exodus 29:42-46: “I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory . . . And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.”

Are you in a the “howling wilderness” that Deuteronomy 32:10 talks about? Look to your God. He will manifest His presence to you too.

3. GOD KNEW HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Deuteronomy 2:7: “He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee.”

Hosea 13:5: “I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.” God intimately knows what you are going through. He never leaves you.

4. GOD KEPT HIS PEOPLE AS “THE APPLE OF HIS EYE” IN THE WILDERNESS

The description of “the apple of his eye” in Deuteronomy 32:10 reveals God’s tender care for His people. The pupil is the most sensitive part of the eye. Even in the worst times, the “desolate howling wilderness,” God tenderly watched over His people. The HCSB says: “He found him in a desolate land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded (encircled) him, cared for him, and protected him as the pupil of his eye.”

When you go through your wilderness experiences God encircles you and watches over you with tender care. You may not feel His presence but you can count on it!

5. GOD SUSTAINED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:21 testifies: “Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness.” God will sustain you too.

6. GOD CARRIED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Deuteronomy 1:31: “And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went.” God carried His people all the way through the wilderness. Not once did He let them down until He brought them to the Promised Land.

I love the Knox translation: “Your own eyes have witnessed how the LORD your God carried you through the desert as a man carries his little son.” Isn’t that so beautiful? You are God’s little daughter and He is carrying you through your wilderness.

7. GOD GIVES GRACE IN THE WILDERNESS

Jeremiah 31:2: “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness.” How did God show His favor and kindness? By giving them rest. This is also a rest in God for you in your wilderness.

            More SURPRISES next week.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank You that You are the God of the wilderness. This is where You love to manifest Your power and Your presence. I thank You that I can experience Your power and presence, even in my “terrible” wilderness. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am triumphing even in my “terrible” wilderness.

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.

SECRETS TO SUCCESS
Part 6

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”
(Proverbs 4:23).

10. DO NOT COMPROMISE

Sometimes Christians can be tempted to compromise for the sake of success. They lower their standards to the standards of the world. The stay silent when they should speak up for truth. All because they may not receive the favor of the world around them. But if we want God’s prosperity upon our lives, we must never compromise.

Young Hananiah (Jehovah is gracious), Mishael (Who is he that is God?), and Azariah (God has helped), were dragged from their beloved homeland of Judah to the foreign land of Babylon. They were now captives. These young men, along with Daniel (and maybe others) were chosen for training and indoctrination into Babylonian life. Their original Hebrew names were changed to the names of Babylonia gods—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Most commentaries say that they would have only been 11 – 13 years of age when they came to Babylon, 15 years at the most.

For three years they were indoctrinated against their Hebrew faith and emerged in Babylonian culture and deception.

But when King Nebuchadnezzar set the image of gold and commanded everyone to worship it, these young men would now bow. Not even in the face of a tortuous death. They would not bow to another god. They would not compromise their faith.

Listen to their confession before the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18) NLT).

Yes, they were thrown into the furnace that was heated seven times hotter! But God miraculously delivered them. Daniel 3;30 says: “Then the king promoted (prospered) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.”

God prospered them because they would not compromise. Sometimes our success may not come in this lifetime. If not, it will come in the eternal realm, which is the real world.

May God help us to have this same spirit. We live in a culture of humanism, feminism, socialism, and many other isms. Do we bow to this culture around us? God’s Word is opposite to these man-made isms. Let’s stand true, even in the face of persecution. We are not facing a fiery furnace, only a bit of ridicule. Is that too much to take?

And what about our children who are growing up in this deceived culture? Are you filling their minds, hearts, and mouths with God’s truth? Out task as parents is a powerful one. We must make them strong in truth to be ready to face the deception. We must prepare them to stand strong, even in the face of death.

I am always challenged by the story of this courageous mother in the time of the Maccabees.

She watched her son being killed because he would not forsake the name of God or His ways.  No, not just killed but cruelly tortured. They cut out his tongue, scalped him, cut off his hands and feet, and while he was maimed and helpless, fried him alive! In the same manner, they tortured and killed her second and third sons. The third son cried out: "I have received these limbs from heaven, and I give them up for the sake of God's laws." Another cried out: "We are prepared to die rather than sin against our ancestral laws" (2 Maccabees 7:2, 11).

Because they would not bend and turn from God's laws this dear mother watched as Antiochus tortured her fourth, fifth, and sixth sons the same way. The mother had only one son left, her beloved youngest. Antiochus tried to influence the mother to save his life. He promised he would make him rich and prosperous and even a political advisor. She obliged by turning to her youngest son saying: "Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care. I beg you, child . . . Don't fear this killer but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God's mercy I should recover you with your brothers" (2 Maccabees 7:27-29). She watched her last son die before she was put to death herself.

This mother was a nurturing and caring mother. But she had a vision for her children beyond this earth. She raised her sons to fear God rather than man. She raised them to stand for truth, no matter what the consequences. She raised them to see beyond this earth to the endless life of the heavenly.

May God help us to be courageous mothers. May He save us from raising wimpy, mediocre children who are seduced by the humanist and feminist lies of an ungodly society. May He anoint us with the mighty power of God to raise children who will have the courage to stand for God and for truth, no matter what persecution they face.

And what about Daniel? We know how did not compromise but continued to pray three times a day, even though it meant death. Yes, he was thrown into the lion’s den, but once again, God delivered him and Daniel 6:28 states: “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

A BONUS SECRET

We have now learned 10 secrets of success using the words tsalach and sakal which mean “to prosper and succeed.” Here is one more Scripture that uses shalah which also means “successful.”

Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Do you and your family pray for Jerusalem and Israel in your home each day? It’s a bonus secret for you to be blessed.

PRAYER:

“Oh God, I live in a deceived world. Please save me from being sucked into the deceptions which are  so prevalent around me. I want to be true to You. I want to be true to Your words. I do not want to compromise. Please help me to be a courageous mother, always standing for truth, and teaching my children to stand strong for truth. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Never bending, never bowing to the world around.

Sticking fast to God’s Word, I’ll never be dumbed down!

SECRETS TO SUCCESS
Part 5

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”
(Proverbs 4:23).

8. LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

We either live our lives independently, trust in ourselves, or rely upon God moment by moment. This is the picture of abiding in Christ, living in His presence, walking with Him.

We read the example of four different men who lived in God’s presence.

ABRAHAM

When Abraham told Eliezer, his servant, to go and find a bride for his son, Isaac he said: “The LORD before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way, and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred and my father’s house” (Genesis 24;40).

What a beautiful testimony! Wouldn’t you love to have that testimony spoken over your life? Because Abraham walked with God each day, He knew His God. He knew he could trust Him to give Eliezer success to find a bride for his son a bride.

Other translations say:

AMPC: “The Lord, in Whose presence I walk (habitually), will send His Angel with you and prosper your way.”

NLT: “The LORD, in whose presence I have lived . . . “

JOSEPH

Even Though Joseph went through much suffering, being cast out from his family as a teenager, thrown out of Potiphar’s house because of lies, and then put in prison and forgotten. Yet in every situation God made him successful because he acknowledged God in everything he did.

Read the whole chapter of Genesis 39 to see how God was with Joseph:

“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. . . The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand: because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”

HEZEKIAH

The testimony of Hezekiah is that he cleaved to the Lord and therefore he walked in God’s presence.

2 Kings 18:3-7: “He trusted in the LORD God of Israel . . . For he cleaved to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments . . . And the LORD was with him; and he prospered withersoever he went forth.”

ASA

Read The testimony of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15:9: “They fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.”

Do our children see that we live in the presence of the Lord? Do people around about us see that the Lord is with us?

9. KEEP A SOFT HEART

How important it is to keep a soft heart before the Lord. This is one of the secrets to success.

Job 9:4: “Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” This is a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious that we will never prosper if we don’t let go of hardness and bitterness.

Proverbs 29:1: “He that being often reproved hardened his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

TPT: “Stubborn people who repeatedly refuse to accept correction, will suddenly be broken and never recover.”

ESV: “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.”

And we know Jesus words to us in Matthew 19 8 that “hardness of heart” leads to divorce. We must take the warning of this Scripture to heart. Life is not perfect. Marriage is not perfect. There will be times when your husband says and does things that hurt you. You can either get hard and bitter which, if you let hardness fester, can lead to divorce and destruction.

Or you can ask the Holy Spirit to work in your heart, melt the hardness, and give you a soft heart. A soft heart is beautiful thing. It leads to life, peace, and blessing.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I want to keep a soft heart before You in every situation. Please expose any hardness in my heart that grieves Your Holy Spirit. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

To keep a soft heart is my daily desire,

I will not stay cold for I want my heart on fire.