Wilderness Days

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today, is mine all the way,
And all that I need for tomorrow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow.

Most of us probably sang the above chorus when coming up through Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. It has a catchy tune to it and the words are great, however, I must admit that I had no idea back then where the “wilderness” was or even what it was. Since those childhood days, however, I must admit that I have become acquainted with what a wilderness time can be in life.

People who love nature of any kind would describe the wilderness as being one or more of the following: desert, wasteland, uninhabited, uncultivated or abandoned of human or other animal life. The wilderness is often spoken of in the Bible. Many people found themselves in wilderness areas and I haven't found any who loved that particular area they found themselves in. Abraham sent Hagar and their young son into the wilderness. Sarah had insisted that they be sent away. God's people, the Israelites were allowed to return to their homeland, but had a long journey to take through the wilderness to get there. Two of my favorite people from Scripture found themselves in desert places....Moses in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament.

Moses had gone from Egyptian royalty to watching sheep in a wilderness area. Could anything good come from such an experience for one who had known the best of everything his entire life? I'm sure there were days when Moses wondered. However, God spoke to Moses in a very clear way in that area where He had Moses' undivided attention. Moses could never have imagined what God had in store for him in future days of leading His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

Jesus had just been baptized and was on the brink of His public ministry. There was no big celebration, ordination or large groups of people to wish Him well. Surprisingly, we read in Matthew 4:

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

It doesn't look like the best onset of one's ministry, but it was the leading of the Holy Spirit that took Jesus into the wilderness where He was tested in every area of His being. God may at times lead us into desert places so that He has our undivided attention. Jesus was tested physically, emotionally and spiritually and responded to Satan with Scriptures that answered Satan's enticements. Jesus passed every test, for Satan gave up and left, at least for the time being.

In Scripture, we find when one goes through a wilderness experience, God has something special in the way of ministry just ahead. When in the wilderness, it's hard to see, but God sees down the wilderness road when we can't.

Let's compare what we can experience in a spiritual wilderness experience as we view our characteristics of a wilderness:

Desert - we can find ourselves dried up spiritually
Uninhabited – in our wilderness, it is lonely even though we may be surrounded by people.
Uncultivated – When in our wilderness, it may seem there is no growth taking place.
Wasteland – We find nothing scenic, of interest or beauty when in our wasteland

God didn't take Jesus or Moses to the wilderness to destroy or ruin their lives. God had wonderful things of ministry in store for them. Whether them or us, trust in God is strengthened or broken in the wilderness. For Moses and Jesus, trust was increased. How did they do it? Jesus trusted His Father but we have to remember that He was human, tempted in all ways that we are.

Moses had gone from riches to being a common, ordinary person keeping sheep in the wilderness. That's quite a fall down the ladder of living. God spoke to him through a burning bush, placing His call on Moses' life. God saw in Moses qualities he could never see in himself. Little did Moses know, but when he led God's people away from Egypt into the wilderness, he would spend the rest of his life in the wilderness except for a brief glance at the end of the journey into the Promises land. How did he manage that? He stayed in communication with God. Moses wasn't perfect and made his share of mistakes, but still maintained a trust in God. God had enough trust in Moses to entrust him with His own laws He wanted passed along to the people.

For the last few months, I have felt in a wilderness situation. I can't tell you what the Scriptures have meant to me during this time. I've read in my Bible by the hour. Sometimes when exhausted, I've just held my Bible in my lap. Whatever the condition of this wilderness, with God's help, I want to see new life come forth from what has been desert-like. I also have seen the importance of staying in close communication with my Heavenly Father. He is the One who knows the way I should take through any wilderness I find myself in. I don't want to waste this time but want to learn what God wants me to learn, trusting Him to work good from this time.

All of us who are God's children will sometime go through a wilderness experience. We shouldn't panic when it happens. We must begin praying and getting into the Word.
Whatever your wilderness experience right now, stay in the Word, be honest with God in your praying. Moses' honesty with God about his lack of qualifications didn't make God angry. He knew better than Moses his capabilities. Know the Word well enough to give Satan chase. Although our wilderness times may be lonely, God is always there, closer than we can imagine. He knows the way through your wilderness as well as He does through mine.

Dear Father...I praise you for choosing to use me in ways that only You can. May I keep my eyes on you as I follow You while allowing You to lead in my life. I want to learn everything You want me to learn through any wilderness time. In Jesus' precious name...Amen