ARE YOU IN A WILDERNESS?
Part 3

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud,
to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light;
to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day,
nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people”
(Exodus 13:21, 22).

We have been discovering all the wonderful things God did for the children of Israel in the wilderness. “But that was just for them,” you say. “Can God do these things personally for me?”

Let’s look at more testimonies.

1. GOD FED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

God led His people to a barren wilderness. It wasn’t long before they were crying, complaining,  and demanding food! But God did not let them down. We know the wonderful miracle of how God sent the manna to them. He didn’t send it to them for one day, but for 40 years! There wasn’t a day that God wasn’t faithful to provide food for them until they reached the Promised Land.

But they had to trust God for each new day. He wanted to teach them  that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:).

What a faithful God we have. He hasn’t stopped being a faithful God. And even when you are going through a drought and you’ve got hardly anything to eat, you won’t starve. You may not feast, but you will eat!

During our lives, God allows us to have times of lean eating (just enough for our needs) and other times of feasting. Even Paul knew how to abound and how to be abased (Philippians 4:12-13).

Do you remember that it was also in a desert place that Jesus fed the 5,000 (Mark 6:31-44)?

2. GOD GAVE HIS PEOPLE WATER IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:20: “Thou gavest them water for their thirst.”

Isaiah 35:6: “In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”

Isaiah 41:18: “I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.”

Isaiah 43:20: “I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.”

Isaiah 48:21: “And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he cleaved the rock also, and the waters gushed out.” Are you dry and thirsty? Even in the desert God will satisfy you with water.

On two separate occasions God brought water out of the rock for them (Exodus 17:6 and Numbers 20:10, 11).

You may feel parched, dry, and desolate. Look up. Jesus is your living water, even in desert times.

3. GOD PROVIDED ALL THEIR NEEDS IN THE WILDERNESS

Can you imagine it? For 40 years their shoes and clothing did not wear out. He provided a pillar of cloud to protect them from the sun by day and a pillar of fire to give them warmth and light at night. They didn’t enjoy the mod-cons we take for granted today They had no shops. They couldn’t run down to the supermarket for an item they think they needed. They had no entertainment centers. They had no “extra” things, but God says in Nehemiah 9:21 that “they lacked nothing.” Read also Deuteronomy 2:7; 6:4; and 29:5.

You may not have all the things you covet or even think you need, but if you have food and clothing and a roof over your head, you lack nothing! We need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34.

4. GOD REVEALED HIS MIRACULOUS POWER IN THE WILDERNESS

The children of Israel lived miraculously every day. Every day they walked out and gathered angel’s food to keep them healthy and strong. Apart from all the miracles we have been reading in the above points, they saw more manifestations of the power of God.

At the beginning of their journey they arrived at Marah, parched with thirst. But they couldn’t drink the waters because they were bitter. God showed Moses a tree which he cast into the water and they immediately became sweet (Exodus 22:26).

They saw God open up the ground and swallow up the tents and all the families of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, because they rose up against Moses. Read this breathtaking story in Numbers 16.

Another time when the people rose up against Moses, God instructed the prince of each tribe to take a rod. Moses laid their rods and his rod in the presence of the Lord. The next day Moses’ rod had budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds! The others were all dry. You can read about this in numbers chapter 17.

 Expect miracles in your wilderness experience.

5. GOD SHONE LIGHT ON HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:19: “The pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.” God didn’t leave them stranded. He didn’t leave them in the dark.

As we go through our wilderness season, God never leaves us in the dark either. He has given us His Son who is the light of the world and His Word which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).

Are you in the dark and you can’t see any way out of your tunnel? Take hold of God’s Word. Clasp it to you, read it, stand on the word God gives to you, and don’t let it go. It will be your light in the darkness.

“Who is among you . . . that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon His God” (Isaiah 50;10).

 

PRAYER:

“I thank you, Lord God, that You are bringing me through the wilderness. Please help me to have the right attitude. Help me to see that this is all part of Your plan and that You are preparing me for Your highest purposes. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am walking through my wilderness, rejoicing that God is with me.

 

FURTHER STUDY:

God feeds you in the wilderness:

Exodus 16:11-36; Numbers 11;1-9; Deuteronomy 8:3; 16; Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 78:19; and John 6:31, 32.

God gives water in the wilderness:

Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalm 78:15, 16; 105:41; 107:35; Isaiah 35:6, 7; 41:18-20; and 43:19, 20.