A Way in the Wilderness

Key Verse: "They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall. He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High." Psalm 78:11-15

The "wilderness" is an interesting place to find yourself. We know Jesus to be Savior and we praise him for making a way where there seemed to be no way. We glorify Him because He has taken us out of bondage and sin. He has removed the veil and has promised new, abundant life. However, we don't often see this abundant life, this land of milk and honey, right away. The process of stripping off dead weight now begins because we can't just bring along all the baggage from our last season. We're stepping into new territory, which requires new insight and new ways of living.

Those that have lived through a series of tragic experiences don't typically jump back in society like nothing happened. There's more than likely a process they go through (or should go though) to deal with what they came out of. It's uncomfortable, it's lonely, it's painful, it's the wilderness. It's a space of time where we consider,  "would it have been better if I never left? I should just go back, because this, this isn't it" The Israelites actually question and test God by asking, "Is the Lord with us here or not?" (Exodus 17:7)

It was their stubborn and doubtful hearts that made a 40 day journey turn into 40 years; an entire generation. There are people today who are still wandering, waiting for God to bring them to their promise land; yet God is waiting for them to rid themselves of unbelief and disobedience. If God said it, it shall come to pass. If He brought us out, He will bring us through. May we believe Him for it!

The cost of following the Lord can feel weighty, "yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later" (Romans 8:18). Following what Jesus commands will cost certain relationships, it will cost our arrogance, our unforgiveness, and our old ways of thinking. It will cost our selfish ambitions and idolatry. It will cost our own understanding of things; our pent-up anger, resentment, and bitterness for "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life" (Matthew 7:13) We will be purified through the removal of the things we may actually consider part of our identity. But by accepting Jesus into our lives, we understand that our identity is in Him and we are a new creation. It is no longer us who live, but Christ who lives in us. So we live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us" (Galatians 2:20)

In the beginning, I mentioned that when we are delivered from bondage (like the Israelites in Egypt), we know Jesus as Savior because He has rescued us from the wrath of God and the power of sin. But when He begins to lead us and we're required to crucify our flesh, it is then we can identify whether or not he is Lord (leader, master, king and commander) of our lives, and not just Savior. The wilderness tests our obedience, loyalty, and servitude. Will we continue to follow him even if we currently have no understanding of how he's going to bring us to our Promised Land? It seems the issue wasn't that the Israelites didn't know where they were going, but rather when and how it was going to happen.

With our eyes set on Jesus, the Light of Life (John 8:12), we can confidently walk along those necessary wastelands regardless of what may be trying to call us back or keep us aimlessly wandering. Yes, the journey is difficult.. but just as God rained down manna from heaven, he will also supply all of our needs "according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Though we may not understand all he's doing now, in just a while, we will find a way in the wilderness. We will proclaim Psalm 100:5, that, "the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."