
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.
One of my favorite songs is Painting Pictures of Egypt by Sara Groves. The chorus says:
I've been painting pictures of Egypt,
I've been leaving out what it lacks
The future feels so hard,
And I wanna go back
The Israelites had selective memory, forgetting their enslavement and only remembering their few comforts. They were on their way to the Promised Land, and God promised them victory in response to their obedience. But they craved something else to eat, and that took priority over trusting God and His provision.
The Bible Recap book’s commentary on Numbers 11:
Their complaints aren’t related to an unmet need. This isn’t desperation— this is entitlement. God provides for them, but they don’t think it’s sufficient. They long for Egypt, forgetting that whatever God calls you to endure with Him is better than any kind of abundance without Him. It’s not like they had abundance in Egypt anyway! They’re romanticizing the past, and God calls it a rejection of Him.
In the book of Exodus, God parted the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, but quickly after (Numbers 11), the Israelites are found grumbling about food. They have witnessed a grand miracle, and all they can think about now is what else they want to eat. Aren’t we guilty of similar grumblings? We forget what God has done for us. When the present gets tough, we romanticize the past. When our present circumstances seem boring, less than glamourous, not exactly what we want, we complain rather than praise the fact we have daily provision.
The Bible Handbook commentary on Exodus says this:
Exodus gives a glimpse of the propensity of mankind to forget the goodness of the Lord. God delivers the Israelites time and time again, yet their hearts still wander from the Lord. They are eyewitnesses to many miracles that God performs, they see Him fulfill His promise, and they experience firsthand the covenant faithfulness of the Lord, but they still wander and look for other gods. This sinful condition is not limited to the Israelites. Instead, we would do well to recognize ourselves in the people of Israel. Exodus, with all of its portrayal of God’s provision, deliverance, and faithfulness, helps us to safeguard wander-prone hearts and teaches us to rely on the Lord’s promises.
What about your past are you wrongly remembering or glorifying because it seems easier than trusting God? Which God-given provisions are you grumbling about? What Red Sea moments are you forgetting? Stop and thank God for his provisions. Stop and remember His times of rescue in your life. Stop and ask Him to strengthen your faith and to help you to rely on Him and His plan.
I’ll leave you with these lyrics from another favorite song and issue a challenge for us to rely on God’s provisions and to trust His plan when we’re in the wilderness.
When you’re living in the Numbers, remember the Exodus.
We will sing to our souls
We won't bury our hope
Where He leads us to go
There's a Red Sea road
When we can't see the way
He will part the waves
And we'll never walk alone
Down the Red Sea road
Oh help us believe You are faithful, you're faithful
When our hearts are breaking
You are faithful, You're faithful
You'll grant us eyes to see
You are faithful, You're faithful
Teach us to sing
You are faithful, You're faithful, You're faithful