The Wilderness

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 33:3, Jeremiah 29:13, John 3:30

1st day. The purpose of the wilderness

Part of the Christian life is a journey through the wilderness. The wilderness is an inevitable part of our walk with the Lord. You might ask, “What is the wilderness and what is the purpose of the wilderness?”

The wilderness is a place or a season all of us go through where our faith is tested, our character is built, our heart is exposed, and our true nature comes forth. The wilderness is the place God uses to humble us and to test us, as stated in Deuteronomy 8:2-3. To be in the wilderness is not a sin or a punishment, it just means that you have a promise to inherit and God is busy equipping you to take hold of the promise. God is a holy God and all He does is good for us. God knows best and that is why He knows that sometimes our attitudes, character, and even our faith will not suffice when we inherit the promise. That is why God allows us to enter the wilderness or even leads us there Himself like in the case of Israel (Exodus 13:18) and even Jesus Himself (Matthew 4:1).

So, God’s purpose for us when we go through the wilderness is to test us and teach us how to depend on Him. I know it is difficult, even seems impossible at times but God never left the children of Israel abandoned in the wilderness. Every day He was there to lead them with the pillar of cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22), providing manna as food every morning (Exodus 16:4-5). He revealed to them that He is the God of wonders and love through bringing water from a rock (Exodus 17:6), and protection against the enemy (Exodus 17:8-13). He even established them as a nation with laws and principles (Exodus 20:1-17) on how to conduct themselves as God’s elect. Sadly, numerous children of Israel did not inherit the promised land because of disobedience, unfaithfulness, and having the wrong mentality throughout their journey in the wilderness.

Let’s just get something straight here, God’s will is NOT for you to die in the wilderness, the wilderness is merely a tool God uses to equip you so you can inherit the Promised Land. The Promised Land for the believer in Christ might not be a physical piece of land as in the case of Israel, but our promised land is the Kingdom of God. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God down to earth, so all who believe in Him can inherit the Kingdom and receive the abundant blessings thereof.

So be of good cheer brother and sister, the wilderness is not the end of the road, God didn’t leave you, you are not alone, you are not on the wrong path. Now is the time to pursue God even more and seek His face more diligently, for He is there with you. You just need to look for Him. God wants to accomplish some things through you, and He needs to impart more of Him in you. The wilderness is one of the ways God uses to let us decrease “self” to receive more of “Him”.

Scriptures: Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 5:3-5, Jeremiah 18:3-4

2nd day. Can we skip the wilderness?

No. No, you can’t skip the wilderness. When times get tough and you feel like you can’t take any more of the wilderness, then my friend, I have to be honest with you, take a moment and regather your thoughts. Remind yourself of the promises of God. Promises of His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace, His love, His holiness, His provision, His power, His strength, His majesty, His plans for your life etc. The God that we serve and that we belong to is an endless God and there is none like Him. 

If you try to rush your way out of the wilderness, then the consequences will be too great to bear. Whatever you try to birth in the flesh, you will have to sustain in the flesh. Therefore, it is wiser to let God birth His promise for you through His Spirit because then His Spirit will sustain it through His grace. Let us take the children of Israel as an example. They tried to take the promised land by force and without the approval of God they were defeated, in fact, the enemy even drove them further back than they initially were. See Numbers 14:39-45. You cannot rush your way through the seasons of your life, you need to trust in God to accomplish the things He wants to accomplish in you. Jeremiah the prophet puts it in another way, He says “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so, he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” (Jeremiah 18:3-4). Paul adds to the description of Jeremiah in his book to the Romans, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Romans 9:20). The point these men of God made was that we as vessels of God cannot advise God on how to form us or rush the process of forming us. 

God has a purpose for us in the wilderness and it is in His best interest to guide us through. For us to become more Christ-like in our attitudes, mindset, actions, and words we need some refining and some pruning. Romans 5:3-5 states that we should glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

That is why it is wise to endure the wilderness season, to allow God to accomplish His will in our hearts and characters, so that when the dry season ends, we are equipped and ready to walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord.

Scriptures: James 1:3-5, Philippians 1:29, 1 Peter 1:6-7, John 16:33, Luke 1:80

3rd day. The pain in the wilderness

Without a doubt there will be pain in the wilderness, there will be disappointments, there will be grief, there will be sorrow and shame, and even an increase in difficult times. The Bible does not hide the fact that we as Christians will have some hard times when we decide to follow Jesus. Paul says in Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake,” which means it is inevitable that we will go through trials in life. But Jesus gave us hope and strength when He said in John 16:33” These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

We always have a choice in life and the choices we make in the wilderness are more important than other choices because the wilderness is what makes us stronger. Have you ever heard the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? It is exactly like that in the wilderness. God will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can bear and the more you persist and persevere in the wilderness the stronger you will become in your faith, character, and your walk with the Lord. 

1 Peter 1:6-7 says “In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”. Peter used the analogy of purifying gold through fire to explain to us what happens to us spiritually when we go through trials. When gold is purified or refined through fire the impure elements get exposed and removed from the pure gold. The exposure we face in the wilderness sometimes feels like pain, all the emotions, questions, and doubts that we face are things that have always been inside us, and the wilderness just exposes those things to us. That is why the wilderness is such an awesome tool that God uses to sanctify His children, and to become more Christ-like. Don’t run from the pain and don’t push the impure elements back inside your character again. Confess them before God, ask for His forgiveness, His cleansing, and His healing, and let the wilderness be a time of restoration for you.

Scriptures: Isaiah 43:18-19, Proverbs 16:9, John 7:37-39, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Hebrews 12:2

4th day. Encouragement in the wilderness

Now that we have dealt with the reasons why the wilderness is important and an essential part of our lives, let’s look at some of the promises God gives us when we travel through the wilderness.

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” What!? A river in the desert? A road in the wilderness? That sounds to me like God promises to perform miracles for us. Even though the wilderness is known as rough terrain and without the proper supplies the chances of survival are few; the God that we serve says He will prepare the way for us.

Roads connect one place to another, which means that the road God guides us in is the path to our promised land. It is in the wilderness that we find the path that God has prepared for us, and we will be equipped to inherit our promises. Proverbs 16:9 declares that God will direct our steps even if we might have other plans. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years because of disobedience. Let us learn from their mistakes and travel the road that God prepares for us so that we in turn can prepare the way for Him.

The number one thing that every soul longs for in the wilderness is water. Part of the good news of Isaiah 43 is that God will make rivers appear in the deserts. Jesus was at a festival in John chapter 7 when He declared that He came to bring us a gift, and you guessed it… It is a gift of rivers of living water. Verses 37-39 testify about these words. Jesus was talking about the abundance of the Holy Spirit that we carry in our hearts as believers. The wilderness reveals to us the abundance of blessings we have in Christ. When we travel through the wilderness and focus on God, He will do a miracle for us and let the rivers of His Spirit overwhelm us, even so, that we forget we are in a dry and weary land. That is supernatural strength if you ask me.

Another promise of God in the wilderness is that He will do something new. “New” means something that doesn’t exist yet or has not existed before. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no ideas have been thought of by man, the things which God has prepared for us are completely new. Some things are coming your way my friend, things that only God can give you, provide and make way for, things that are meant for you alone. The wilderness is the place that God chooses to reveal and give to us these new things.

Our part in the wilderness is to trust in Him, stay faithful and obedient to Him, and follow Him throughout it all. Even Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and despised the shame. Let Jesus lead, our job is to follow.

Scriptures: Exodus 13:21-22, Psalms 91:1, Luke 4:14, Hebrews 13:5

5th day. How to see God in the wilderness.

When the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they had a Guide that went before them. A Heavenly Guide. Showing them the way to go so that they would be protected and provided for while they face the dangers of the desert. Exodus 13:21-22 says “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” 

This means that Israel had a permanent Guide to follow. Wherever they saw the cloud moved, they followed, wherever they saw the fire moved, they went after it. The power of following your guide in the wilderness lies in the realization that if you lose your guide, then chances are slim for survival on your own. It is always wiser to follow someone who is familiar with the terrain. Let’s look at some of the symbolic meanings of the cloud and the fire and how we can use these to see God in our wilderness seasons. 

The pillar of cloud went before the Israelites by day. Clouds are sometimes life changers in the desert because shade is not very common in a place where there are little to no trees around. The shade that the pillar of cloud provided was without a doubt a massive relief against the hot desert sun. Those who traveled closest to the cloud were the most privileged in receiving rest and relief. They are the ones that, as stated in Psalm 91, abide in the Shadow of the Almighty. A lot of times when clouds are formed it signifies that rain is on its way. In the desert, if you receive rain, it can make a difference between life and death. The rain brings refreshment and nourishment to a weary traveler. I remember when I was a child, my sister and I would lie on our backs and look for picture-like shapes that formed animals or objects. When we see a fish-shaped cloud we would think of holidays at the beach and when we see an elephant-shaped cloud we would think of the strength an elephant has. And I think a lot of times God uses the spiritual clouds in our wilderness to communicate to us certain messages that encourage and remind us of His presence and faithfulness. Those pictures changed when the wind started to blow, and sometimes new pictures would form from the same clouds. The wind that blows speaks of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the wilderness seasons. Whether that be in our characters or our circumstances. When Jesus was done fasting in the wilderness, Luke 4:14 says that He was empowered by the Spirit and started His ministry. This testifies to the truth that the Spirit of God is present in our wilderness seasons and strengthens us on our journey. 

So, the pillar of cloud that we see in the wilderness is a way to see God’s rest, relief, refreshment, nourishment, encouraging messages, and the movement of His Spirit. 

The pillar of fire that led Israel by night was also a lifesaver in the wilderness. Just as the days are very hot, the nights can also be very cold. Those who camped closest to the pillar of fire at night were comforted the most. Those who camped a distance away from the pillar of fire most definitely needed to cultivate their own fires to help fight against the cold. Fires are also useful to protect travellers against the predators that walk around at night. Fire is also used to light the path of travelers so that they can avoid obstacles that are in their way. Probably the most common use of fire is for the preparation of food and boiling water. So, as we can see, fire is one of the essentials when traveling through the wilderness. 

Do not miss the pillar of fire that represents God’s comfort, protection, guidance, and sustenance with what we need to survive. 

So in your wilderness season, do not believe the lie of the enemy that God has forsaken you because He has not. He is actually closer than you think. Look out for the signs of His clouds and His fire. They are the ones who are leading and guiding you to progress on your wilderness journey.

Scriptures: Philippians 3:10, Colossians 3:2, Romans 12:1-2, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 30:19-20

6th day. The end of the wilderness.

Every time we find ourselves in the wilderness, most of our initial thoughts are to get a plan of escape. We want to go back to where things were comfortable, where we could feel God’s presence each day, and where we were in control of our own circumstances. But as we’ve learned these past few days, that is not always the case, and we should not run ahead or away from God. It is God’s will for us to pass through the wilderness and not remain in it. So how and when do we end the wilderness season? The answer is quite easy, it is through our obedience and surrender. 

God’s will in the wilderness is to accomplish things in us to prepare us for greater things to come. When we present ourselves as living sacrifices unto the Lord, He can accomplish what He wants to in and through us. We are to be transparent before God so that the characteristics, weaknesses, distractions, and sins that draw us away from Him can be dealt with. Our ultimate goal in the wilderness should be to draw closer to God, to know Him more intimately, to trust in Him no matter what and to experience His hand upon your life in ways that were unfamiliar to us before. Paul sums this up beautifully in Philippians 3:10. It reads, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”. This verse is subtracted from a piece where Paul described all his earthly goals and achievements as rubbish because he realized everything was null and void if you are not in a relationship with Christ. 

Our obedience unto the Lord and His ways are of utmost importance to God. If we look at Israel’s journey through the wilderness, God was pleased when they walked by faith and obedience but when they started to grumble, complain, and distrust God, their season was prolonged. We will reach our promised land when we are obedient and when we have passed the test in the wilderness. A huge asset is to renew our minds. The number one challenge Israel had was not the lack of food, water, guidance, protection, or even clothes. Their biggest challenge was their mindset. We have to set our minds on things above and habitually keep it set there. We have to renew our minds daily with the Word of God so that we don’t conform to the pattern of this world, but be changed and transformed from the inside out, able to discern what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2). If you want to know God’s will amid trials and hardships, then renew your mind with the Word of God. 

I want to encourage you not to lose heart in the wilderness. Even when it seems unbearable, even when you want to run away from the wilderness or back to your comfort zone, even when it feels like God has abandoned you and your life is a mess. Take heart, that is not the case. God is busy, God is on the move, and God wants to raise up the Body of Christ so that we can be bold as lions in this world, declaring the Kingdom of God with all power and authority. Don’t be like some of the Israelites that died in the wilderness because of disobedience, and wrong mindsets. Let us be like the people who followed Joshua into the promised land and conquered the enemy one city at a time. 

If God is for us, who can be against us?