O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah. (Psalm 68:7)
When God led Israel out of Egypt, rather than taking them on the most direct path to Canaan — a journey of days as opposed to years — He elected to take them into the wilderness and to the mountain called Sinai. Why? Because they were a congregation of recently-freed slaves who would not have been ready or willing to fight the inevitable war that would have occurred when they entered Canaan. And so, as a Pillar of Fire by night and a Pillar of Cloud by day, He marched them in orderly ranks through the barren wasteland providing shade from the daytime sun and warmth from the desert chill.
We might say that the wilderness served as a training ground for an army of raw recruits. Their fear of Egypt and obvious dependency upon Pharaoh for shelter and sustenance had to be broken and replaced with the knowledge that the God of Israel was their Master and Provider. Therefore, He led them through the wilderness; void of luxuries and conveniences, the desert provided an environment in which they would be more inclined to heed His voice and depend upon Him for their daily needs. In short, God used the wilderness to demonstrate that His authority and provision is not limited to just one environment, and for that matter, one society. He is Sovereign in every situation. Unfortunately, as a whole, Israel failed to recognize this fact.
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul referred to Israel’s wilderness journey as an example and lesson to those of us who have chosen to follow Messiah, with the charge that we should not repeat their mistakes. Specifically, he highlighted the fact that many of them, indeed most of them, failed to adapt to what God had called them to do as a people. In spite of the fact that He sufficiently provided for them in the wilderness, they chose to grumble, complain and regret ever leaving Egypt. In effect, they didn’t believe that God was able to finish what He had started. Thus Paul reminded God’s people that, “All these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
In other words, we need to learn from their mistakes; we must heed His Voice and submit to His Will regardless of the situation and environment we find ourselves in. Not only can He bring us into a land of plenty, but can provide for us in the midst of desolation. It is there, in fact, that we truly learn to trust and obey His Word. And when we find ourselves in the proverbial wilderness, remember that our God goes before us; He scouts out the path and leads us in the way that is sure to bring us to the place He desires us to be.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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