The Wilderness Is a Gracious Training Ground

 

Remember a couple weeks ago when the Israelites were grumbling about food in the wilderness? God delivered them from slavery in Egypt and performed the grand miracle of parting the Red Sea. He led them into the wilderness for them to journey to the Promised Land. They were led by particular route for specific reasons, but the route wasn’t easy. When it came time to scout out the Promised Land, Moses sent twelves spies to explore Canaan (Numbers 13). The land that God promised to give them was fruitful, but all but two of the spies let fear overtake God’s promises. God forgave the people after Moses pleaded for mercy on their behalf, but they would now wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Anyone 20-years-old or older would not see the Promised Land, apart from Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who trusted God’s plan.

Now, jump with me to the book of Deuteronomy.  Moses is addressing the Israelites and reminding them of what God has done for them and how He will bless them when they’re obedient.  Moses says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (8:2).

There was eventually a time when God took Israel out of the wilderness and led them into the Promised Land, but let’s pause and think more on the times we have in the wilderness.

Israel was initially in the wilderness because they were on a journey. God led them on a path that protected them from battles against other nations that they weren’t ready to fight and to teach them lessons they needed to learn before reaching their destination.

Israel stayed in the wilderness longer because of their sin. Their fear of man, mistrust of God, pride, rebellion, and so on, kept them from claiming what God was going to give them much sooner.

God may lead us into a time of wilderness to protect us and to prepare us for what’s next. He may keep us in the wilderness due to our own sin. Either way, God has a purpose for the desert. He grows us in the wilderness. He humbles us and tests us in the wilderness.

Israel wasn’t spiritually ready to move into the Promised Land. Before they could enter into the Promised Land where they would need to fight other nations, they needed to learn to trust God. They needed to learn to worship him alone. They left pagan-worshipping Egypt and were going to enter a land filled with more pagan-worshipping cultures. The wilderness was meant to prepare their hands for physical battle and their hearts for spiritual battle.

When we’re in the wilderness, we need to look for the lessons God is teaching us and prepare ourselves for what He has next. The wilderness is not easy, but it’s a gracious training ground.