CONSIDER THE WILDERNESS

When I think of the term, wilderness, in Scripture, I often think of drought-ridden lands, desert, rocky, and barren scenes.  Yet the term also included steppe- like prairies and pasture lands.  That seems to make more sense when I read that the Hebrews also took their herds of cattle, goats, and sheep with them as they left Egypt.  

In Deuteronomy 8:2, the trek from Egypt to the Promised Land was only an eleven day venture, but it became a forty year adventure of disobedience, rebellion, and general distrust of God's heart for what HE had in mind for them.  I find it very interesting how the LORD states that HE led the Hebrews there "to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep HIS commands." 

In Matthew 4:1, Jesus "was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil."  In the first and the second instances, GOD or HIS Spirit led Jesus and the Hebrews.  I wonder did the GOD/MAN know that HE /he could sin?  Was HE/he tempted so that HE/he could so identify with the humanity that HE came to deliver from the slavery of sin and death under the evil one?  The GOD/MAN prevailed over the evil one and the choice to sin. 
  My own personal wilderness!  I have wrestled with who led me, self or the LORD GOD? Was I led there because of my own flesh and failure or was I led there for HIS divine purpose.  I have always thought of the wilderness as punishment, but I cannot deny God's provisions over and over again for the Hebrews in their wilderness wanderings, and I certainly can see GOD'S provision for the LORD JESUS in his desert experience.  While reading in Exodus and Numbers, I kept seeing the words, complaining and murmuring, the first reactions of the people as they entered the "wilderness".  I am understanding that my wilderness experience has been for the same purposes that God had with the Hebrews: to humble me, and HE is well acquainted with my stinking pride; to test/reveal to me the lies/sinful mindsets that I choose to operate from rather than the TRUTH of HIS WORD; and to be willing to TRUST the LORD GOD and HIS WORD/PROMISES.  I know the grace and mercy of the LORD and HE has been willing to allow me stay awhile longer in the wilderness when I complain and murmur rather than show a grateful and thankful spirit.  Will I be willing to be content and learn what HE desires to teach me in this season of wilderness, or will I like the Hebrews bow and stiffen my neck and lengthen the years of the experience? GOD has determined that you and I will be conformed to the image of the LORD JESUS.  At this point, I am thanking the LORD for this season and I had rather view it as a learning time rather than a time of punishment.  I have made several trips around some of the bushes and Mt. Sinai and I am ready to move on, LORD JESUS...when YOU say so. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more