Deuteronomy 1:30-33, “The Lord God is your leader, and he will fight for you with his mighty miracles, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you know how he has cared for you again and again here in the WILDERNESS, just as a father cares for his child!’ But nothing I said did any good. “They refused to believe the Lord our God who had led them all the way and had selected the best places for them to camp and had guided them by a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud during the day.” (TLB)
Every one of us gets to spend some time in the desert, or the wilderness, as it is often called in the Bible. It is not our permanent home, but it is a temporary part of the journey. Maybe you are in one of those difficult dry spells right now. If so, then it is time to remember that while the desert is hard, it does have a beauty all its own. There are things you see there that you cannot see when you are in the green and blooming times.
God's ancient people learned that when they spent their time in the wilderness. God describes some of that in Deuteronomy 1:30-33. "The Lord your God Who goes before you, He will fight for you just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the WILDERNESS, where you have seen how the Lord your God bore you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place. Yet despite this word, you did not believe (trust, rely on, and remain steadfast to) the Lord your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day." (AMPC)
Wilderness times can be tough for several reasons: you feel depleted, stressed, anxious, lonely, confused, not to mention the fear of what may happen next starts to take over, and sometimes it only plain hurts. And top it all off, the devil's doing everything he can to exploit this vulnerable time in your life, just ask Jesus: Luke 4:1-2, “Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was LED IN [BY] THE [HOLY] SPIRIT. For (during) FORTY DAYS in the WILDERNESS (DESERT), where He was TEMPTED (TRIED, TESTED EXCEEDINGLY) BY THE DEVIL. And He ATE NOTHING DURING THOSE DAYS, and when they were completed, HE WAS HUNGRY.” (AMPC) Yes, even Jesus knows what it feels like to have a wilderness experience. Not only are you in the desert, but you also feel deserted! But notice, the Holy Spirit led Jesus there! And isn’t that one of the scariest things? I mean you expect the devil to come after you, but how do you fight a desert experience when it was the Holy Spirit that led you there in the first place?! Well, as hard as it is to embrace, but the truth is sometimes the Person who ushers you into the desert/wilderness, is the Holy Ghost! That is why you have no reason to fear the experience. The Holy Spirit would never lead you to a place of destruction. It may break you down, but it will eventually build you back up and better than before, especially if you learn all the lessons from the experience! However, another fact is that sometimes your desert/wilderness is not going to be a few days, or even a few months. The Bible says, “…For (during) FORTY DAYS in the WILDERNESS (DESERT)…” Jesus could have snapped His fingers and a legion of angels would have come to His aid, but instead, He endures the desert/wilderness for 40 days. With that, He teaches us how to persevere, endure, go in, go through, and eventually get out! Now, many of us are going through varying levels of pain, hurt, struggle, confusion, and the like, and still, I encourage you to hang in there. Jesus did, and He is our example of how to hold on to God when you are ready to let go of life! For 40 days Jesus was “…TEMPTED (TRIED, TESTED EXCEEDINGLY) BY THE DEVIL…” The word ‘exceedingly’ is defined as ‘to an extreme degree; awful; badly; deadly; seriously; terribly; and wickedly.’ This was no cakewalk! And I am sure yours is not either. The devil was harsh towards Jesus, and he will most certainly be harsh towards you!
Jesus and Job have a lot in common do not you think? Job 1:6-12, “Now there was a day when the sons (the angels) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and SATAN (THE ADVERSARY AND ACCUSER) ALSO CAME AMONG THEM. And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. And the Lord said to Satan, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face. And the Lord said to Satan (the adversary and the accuser), Behold, all that he has is in your power, only upon the man himself put not forth your hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.” (AMPC) Like Jesus being personally escorted into the desert/wilderness by the Holy Spirit, Job was personally recommended to Satan by God Himself! After all, Satan did not come before God and ask for Job, he simply said that he had come “…from going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it…” He did not request Job. He could have grabbed anybody on earth, but God recommends Job, and not because he deserved to have so much pain and suffering and loss, but because he has already proven that his possessions did possess him. And not only that but he was found faithful when many of us would have thrown in the towel, cursed God and called it quits! So, maybe a good question to ask yourself is am I in this desert/wilderness because of something bad I have done, or because of something good that God is working in my life? Job loss family, property, his wife’s respect, finances, and even impaired health and horrible friends. And yet the Bible says of Job’s experience: Job 42:12-17, “AND THE LORD BLESSED THE LATTER DAYS OF JOB MORE THAN HIS BEGINNING; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so far as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. AFTER THIS, JOB LIVED 140 YEARS, AND SAW HIS SONS AND HIS SONS’ SONS, EVEN TO FOUR GENERATIONS. SO, JOB DIED, AN OLD MAN AND FULL OF DAYS.” (AMPC) and what about Jesus? Luke 4:13-14, “And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.” THEN JESUS WENT BACK FULL OF AND UNDER THE POWER OF THE [HOLY] SPIRIT INTO GALILEE, AND THE FAME OF HIM SPREAD THROUGH THE WHOLE REGION ROUND ABOUT.” (AMPC) Will I say the desert/wilderness is a wonderful experience? Absolutely not! But when God is in it, can it turn out to be a wonderful outcome? Yes Indeed!
Deuteronomy 1:29-33, “I tried to relieve your fears: “Do not be terrified of them. God, your God, is leading the way; he is fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; you saw what he did in the WIDERNESS, how God, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here. But now that you are here, you will not trust God, your God—this same God who goes ahead of you in your travels to scout out a place to pitch camp, a fire by night and a cloud by day to show you the way to go.” (MSG)
Maybe the reason God had to remind His ancient people that He was about releasing them and not restricting them, was that their journey included plagues and the wilderness. In other words, for them to be free, they had to go through all those plagues in Egypt and an exceedingly difficult time through the wilderness. And possibly you have been having your own share of plagues and wilderness experiences. But that's not because God does not love you; IT'S BECAUSE HE DOES! He loves you enough to take you through the processes that will set you free and ultimately lead you to the better life He has planned, prepared, prearranged, promised, and predestined just for you.
Jeremiah 29:10-11, “This is God’s Word on the subject… I will show up and take care of you as I PROMISED and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all PLANNED out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, PLANS to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG); Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God PREDESTINED (PLANNED BEFOREHAND) for us [taking paths which He PREPARED ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He PREARRANGED and made ready for us to live].” (AMPC); Romans 8:29-30, “For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. And those whom He PREDESTINED, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].” (AMP)
So, do not be confused by the pain of the plagues or by the wounding of the wilderness. Your Heavenly Father has some awesome plans for you, and He's not building a cage to contain your life. He is making something incredibly special for you. After all, you are His child purchased with the blood of His Son! Is there any question how He feels about you?
When we read from God's Word about desert times it reminds us of several especially important encouragements which the dry times tend to make us forget.
First, THE DESERT IS PART OF THE PLAN. It is God who leads you into a wilderness time, knowing that it will take a wilderness to take you to your next level in Him. Even though the devil was all over Jesus when He spent forty days in the wilderness, the Bible makes it noticeably clear that the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness. The God who loves you passionately has decided that the wilderness is what will bring you the greatest good and Him the greatest glory at this point in your life. So even when God leads you into the desert/wilderness, trust Him and follow with confidence and faith, knowing that God will NEVER lead you astray! Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].” (AMPC); Psalm 18:33, “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.” (AMPC); Proverbs 3:5-6, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (AMPC); 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus, we walk] not by sight or appearance.” (AMPC); Exodus 14:26-31, “Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and horsemen. So, Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength and normal flow when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled into it [being met by it]; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians and shook them off into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that pursued them; not even one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground during the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus, the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did against the Egyptians, and the people [reverently] feared the Lord and trusted in (relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord and to His servant Moses.” (AMPC) Trust God and Follow His Lead, He Will NEVER Lead You Astray!
Secondly, THE WILDERNESS IS A PLACE OF MIRACLES! It was in a wilderness that God's people saw manna from heaven, water come from rocks, and a pillar of cloud and fire providing daily guidance. If you will remain faithful, even when you do not have the feelings, God will show you His power in the desert in ways you will never see in the Promised Land. Embrace this, the miracles were revealed in the WILDERNESS, not the Promised Land! And truth is, sometimes you have more meaningful experiences and encounters with God in the Valley more than on the Mountain! Yes, it is a hard place, but it will also be a blessed place! Do not quit in the wilderness, do not give up in the desert. There is a miracle on the way, even BEFORE you reach the promised land!
The third desert encouragement is that THE WILDERNESS IS A GROWING TIME. Paul saw his greatest revelations of God (the things you read in the New Testament now) while he was in the desert. But listen to this Scripture in particular: 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, “I have worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I have been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I have been shipwrecked three times and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I have had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I have been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, ENDANGERED BY DESERT SUN and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I have known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that is not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches…” (MSG) Yes, Paul is yet another example of someone who had to endure the desert, but look at all he accomplished, not just after the desert, but IN it! Reminds me of Romans 8:37, “Nay, IN all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (KJV) Remember this: God Can Bless You While You are Still IN the Desert! Do not be in such a hurry to flee the desert/wilderness experience, wait for God to finish all that He is doing in you, with you and for you while you are still there! James 1:2-4, “[Faith Under Pressure] Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. SO, DON’T TRY TO GET OUT OF ANYTHING PREMATURELY. LET IT DO ITS WORK SO YOU BECOME MATURE AND WELL-DEVELOPED, NOT DEFICIENT IN ANY WAY.” (MSG)
And we dare not forget that Jesus emerged from the wilderness, "FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER" and He exploded into His public ministry! God wants to use the desert time to drive you more deeply into Him because He's all you have got there. And as you go deeper, you develop a new spiritual power that prepares you for a whole new level of impact on the other side of the wilderness. This is your encouragement that you will EXIT the desert/wilderness BETTER than you ENTERED it!
Two other desert encouragements; THE WILDERNESS WILL NOT LAST FOREVER. There is a Promised Land on the other side! And the desert is a place where God will carry you when you have got nothing left - like a daddy carries a tired little boy to places that little boy could never go in his own strength. And there is something incredibly special about collapsing on the shoulder of your all-loving, all-powerful Heavenly Daddy.
Deuteronomy 32:10-14, “He Found Him Out in The Wilderness, In an Empty, Windswept Wasteland. He Threw His Arms Around Him, Lavished Attention on Him, Guarding Him as The Apple of His Eye. He Was Like an Eagle Hovering Over Its Nest, Overshadowing Its Young, Then Spreading Its Wings, Lifting Them into The Air, Teaching Them to Fly. God Alone Led Him; There Was Not A Foreign God in Sight. God Lifted Him onto The Hilltops, So He Could Feast on The Crops in The Fields. He Fed Him Honey from The Rock, Oil from Granite Crags, Curds of Cattle and The Milk of Sheep, The Choice Cuts of Lambs and Goats, Fine Bashan Rams, High-Quality Wheat, And the Blood of Grapes: You Drank Good Wine!” (Msg)
Your assignment in the desert? Keep showing up, keep being faithful even when you do not feel it. If you are in a desert stretch, trust the One who is allowed or directed you to be there. And while you are there, do not miss the strange beauty of the desert. Remember: God is Using the Wilderness to Work for Your Good!
Isaiah 40:3-5, “Thunder in the desert! “Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine, and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said.” (MSG)
Isaiah 43:16-21, “…Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I am about to do something brand-new. It is bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the DESERT, rivers in the badlands…” (MSG)
Jeremiah 31:2-6, “This is the way God put it: “They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!” God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I will start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You will resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You will go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, and sit back and enjoy the fruit—oh, how you will enjoy those harvests! The time’s coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let us go to Zion, go to meet our God!’” (MSG)
Hosea 13:4-6, “I’m still your God, the God who saved you out of Egypt. I am the only real God you have ever known. I am the one and only God who delivers. I took care of you during the wilderness hard times, those years when you had nothing. I took care of you, took care of all your needs, gave you everything you needed. You were spoiled. You thought you did not need me. You forgot me.” (MSG)
Hosea 2:14-15, “And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I am taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I will court her. I will give her bouquets of roses. I will turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.” (MSG)
Miracles are meant to do more than fascinate our soul; they are meant to convince us that God’s faithfulness will not fail when the dry desert days come.
Wilderness experiences remind us of our helplessness and ultimate dependence on God. God is still at work, even in our darkest wilderness. You and I can claim that assurance today and every day.
Worship in the wilderness. Worshipping in the wilderness might be the last thing we feel like doing. However, when we worship, we are speaking out words in faith.
In Our Wilderness Test God Is In Control Of Our Circumstances, even when we do not understand what he is doing. Embrace your wilderness. I thank God for my wilderness. Every test brings about a testimony.
Remain faithful in the wilderness. The Wilderness Experience will build you up.
“Keep bubbling over with abundant joy, peace, and love. You may be the only well-watered oasis for someone going through a DESERT in their lives.” (Caroline Naoroji)
“The same God that made a way through the waters will make a way through the WILDERNESS.”
“No one escapes the WILDERNESS on the way to the Promised Land.”
“The Promised Land always lies on the other side of a WILDERNESS.”
J.P. Olson
www.thewordwithjpolson.org
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