In the Wilderness
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Key Verse: “The LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” Selected Scriptures: |
ONLY TWO OF THE SPIES, Joshua and Caleb, returned to the camp of Israel with a good report of what they had seen in the promised land of Canaan. The children of Israel, however, were in a fearful and rebellious attitude.
Lacking faith in God’s power to deliver them from whatever enemies they might encounter in Canaan, God sentenced them to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Because of their disobedience and lack of faith, they wandered as nomads throughout the vast Sinai desert, where most of the original group died including Moses and Aaron, as well as the registered males twenty years old and upward.
God did not abandon his people, however, but continued to bless and guide them throughout their wilderness experiences. He protected them from their enemies, except when they rebelled against him, when they suffered the consequences of disobedience. The Lord provided all their needs. They were given manna to eat, water to drink, and their shoes did not wear out, even from all their wanderings.
But, in spite of such miraculous demonstrations of God’s loving care on their behalf, the Israelites continued to murmur and complain about their experiences. God found it necessary to discipline them harshly until they learned to trust him.
They were eager to fight the Amorites even though God had told them not to go against them. Moses related: “The Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill. And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.”—Deut. 1:42-45
Later, Moses again relayed God’s instructions that the Israelites should not fight the descendants of Esau when they passed through their territory, but should pay them for whatever they needed for both food and drink. Similar instructions were also given concerning their peaceable passage through the territories of the Moabites and Ammonites.
The wilderness experiences of Israel served as typical lessons for Christians now living at the close of the Gospel Age. God has been directing the affairs of his people at this time also. All who have responded to his call must learn to trust him in the varied experiences of their consecrated walk—including the difficult, trying experiences we must endure before we can enter the heavenly Canaan, the Promised Land. Those who rebel against his providences are disciplined so they may learn to trust him wherever he may lead them.—Heb. 3:8-19
Crossing Jordan, and entering the land of Canaan represents entering the heavenly Promised Land.