Lessons from the Wilderness (Part 2)

You know, it’s funny.

When we studied Exodus in Sunday School last month and I blogged about walking through the wilderness two weeks ago, I never could have known that a surprise trip through my very own wilderness was quickly approaching. I had no way to know that. I didn't see it coming. But God did. He knew. He always knows. 

Isnt’ that funny? Not funny like haha, like a good joke. Because the wilderness is definitely no joke. But funny like crazy, like the way God always works things together for our good and His glory. 

It’s funny. 

And everyone’s wilderness is different. Some walk through a wilderness of pain or illness. Others trudge through a wilderness of sorrow or loneliness or grief. Still others, like me, wander through a wilderness of waiting and questioning and waiting some more. (I won’t go into detail here, but if you want to read my response to my first night in the wilderness, check it out here.)

Whatever your wilderness looks like, God’s Word equips us for it. 

Many people aren’t sure of the purpose or importance of the Old Testament (you know, that front half of our Bibles). And while I don’t have the time, space or knowledge to fully explain it, I can confidently affirm that the accounts in the Old Testament reveal timeless truths about God’s character and the human heart - truths that don’t change with passing time or changing cultures. The Israelites’ liberation from Egypt and l o n g trek through the wilderness are perfect examples. If we take the time to study these, we learn many helpful “faith hacks” from these early wilderness wanderers. (In fact, there’s SO MUCH to learn, I’ve divided this topic into 2 separate posts. For wilderness lessons #1-5, see the Part 1 post here). 

So, without further adieu, let’s dive back in and discuss a few more lessons we can learn from the wilderness…

6. Beware! Complaining about wilderness circumstances is complaining about the God who put us there.

In chapter 16 of Exodus, the Israelites are in the Sinai desert without food. They’re hungry, tired, and stressed. I can completely understand why they start complaining to Moses. We’re starving! Where’s the milk and honey? The food we ate in Egypt was way better than the sand sandwiches we eat here! I totally get it. And apparently, God does, too, because he sends them manna. But not before Moses gives the people an important reminder: 

“Who are we that you should grumble against us?... You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” (Ex 16:7 & 8) 

Whoa. Moses is not wrong. The Israelites are so wrapped up in all the negatives of their situation they forget one super important factor: God. He never leaves them. In fact, He’s guiding them. And He guides them right into this empty, foodless wasteland. So He sees and knows alllll about their challenges. And in complaining to Moses, the people inadvertently complain about their God who created, rescued, leads and sustains them. Ooops. We do this all the time. We complain about our circumstances, implying that God’s fallen asleep on the job, or that His plan is flawed, or that we know what we need better than He does. Moses is right - complaining about our circumstances is complaining about the God who created them (or allowed them, but that’s a topic for another day). This is why it’s crucial that we take every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor 10:5 ) and that we do everything without complaining or arguing (Phil 2:14).

7. God’s patient and persistent provision helps us know that He is Lord.

Over and over again in the books of the Torah, God provides and then tells the people why He does it - “so you may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ex 16:12) From manna and meat to water and forgiveness, God provides again and again for His people so that they can begin to know and trust His character. This is just the beginning of their relationship with YHWH. He wants them to know that He is very different from the little-g gods of the people surrounding them. And the primary way God teaches them about His unique character is meeting their needs. Every. Single. Time. He does this for us today, too, especially in the wilderness. Think about it… the wilderness is a place of leanness and lack. It’s sparse, and resources are scarce. Whatever your wilderness looks like, it’s rife with opportunities for God to meet your needs and show you how and why He is the Lord.

Plus, let’s notice one more thing about God’s provision in the wilderness: it’s persistent. It’s frequent. It’s repeated. It’s everything but one and done. God meets one need, but another always arises. He never eliminates all the challenges for the Israelites. He allows His people to continue needing so He can continue providing. It’s a continual cycle of need - ask- provide (wash, rinse, and repeat). This isn’t because God lacks the power to make life easy and carefree. Nope. It’s because He wants His people to keep coming back to Him for more.

More water.

More meat.

More guidance.

More protection.

More forgiveness.

More promises.

More relationship.

And they do, without fail! They keep coming back. Over and over again.

And God provides, without fail. He keeps meeting their needs. Over and over again.

And He does the same for us today.

8.  The Lord is faithful, even when His people are faithless

Those ridiculous Israelites. God rescues them, protects them, guides them, and provides for them again and again. In response, they FREAK OUT again and again. Their fear and discontent and grumbling and going their own way are all faithless attitudes and actions of people who don’t trust their God. It’s crazy! YHWH makes a covenant with them and makes promises to them all so He can be in a relationship with Him. Leading them into the wilderness is all about leading them to Himself. Guiding them with a pillar of cloud and fire and dwelling among them in the Tabernacle tent is all about being with them. The Israelites are God’s chosen covenant partners, and they cheat on Him. Repeatedly. They are completely faithless. At one point, they even melt their jewelry and worship it. Stupid on so many levels. And there are definitely consequences. God is jealous for them (not of them), and He doesn’t give up on His covenant partners without a fight.

But He’s also merciful.

He’s reliable.

He keeps His Word and honors His promises.

Even when the people yearn to return to slavery (ridiculous!) and complain about manna (really?!?) and rebel against Moses (I mean, COME ON!), God stays with them. He never leaves them. He keeps guiding and protecting and providing. That’s because of who He is. The one thing God cannot and will not do is be untrue to Himself. And He is the most perfect, faithful, true, merciful, loving covenant partner. Thank goodness! (because you and I are just as ridiculous as those Israelites, and God still loves us.)

Even when we’re learning and our faith is growing, the wilderness is still not much fun. But it’s important to remember (I’m talking to myself, here…) that wilderness seasons are chock full of God-ordained opportunities to get to know Him. So the wilderness is painful but important. It’s where our faith is formed and fired. It’s where we learn that our God is completely better (and superior) to anything or anyone this world has to offer. And when you think about it, if we didn’t have the wilderness, we’d never truly understand or appreciate peace or paradise, joy or fulfillment. It we didn’t have times of leanness and lack, we could never celebrate God as our endless source of abundance and plenty.

So strangely enough, I’m thankful for the wilderness.

Funny, huh?