The Terrible Wilderness, Pt. 2 - No. 141

Nehemiah 9:21, “Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.”

When Evangeline’s eighth baby was born, she wanted to call her Sahara. At first her husband did not like the idea of calling her after a desert. However, as they thought of all the mighty things that God does in the desert, they realized that it was an amazing name to call their child. Howard affirmed the name of Sahara Oasis. By the way, they pronounce it Sa-hah-ra, not Sahera.

We continue to discover more wonderful surprises in the desert. As you go through your desert experience, claim these great promises. Lean on them. Confess them. Believe them.

Do you feel God has forgotten you?

God did not forsake His people in the wilderness.” 9:19) Nor will He forsake you.

The presence of God was in the wilderness. Never forget that. It was on the back side of the desert, the fartherest place from any civilization that God chose to reveal himself to Moses. (Exodus 3:1-14).  It was in this same mountain in the desert where God revealed His awesome power to the children of Israel. (Exodus 19 and 20). It was in the desert that God gave explicit plans for the building of the tabernacle where He chose to reside between the cherubims in the Holy of Holies. (1 Samuel 4:4; Acts 7: 44)  On many occasions, God filled the whole tabernacle with His shekinah glory. (Exodus 40:34-35; Numbers 14:10)

Wow! Can you get this? It was in the desert, not in the hubbub of the city that God chose to dwell and manifest His presence! God loves the desert. You can come to love the desert too. I know you won’t love your circumstances, but you will love the manifestation of God’s presence in the midst of your “wilderness.”

God intimately knew His people in the wilderness. (Hosea 13:5) Deuteronomy 2:7 says, “He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness.” He knows what you are going through too.

God kept them “as the apple of His eye” in the wilderness. (Deuteronomy 32:10) He will keep you too.

God sustained them in the wilderness. (Nehemiah 9:21) He will sustain you too.

God carried His people in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 1:31 Knox says, “Your own eyes have witnessed how the Lord your God carried you through the desert as a man carries his little son.” He will carry you too.

God fed them in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:14-15; Deuteronomy 8:3, 16; Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 78:19; John 6:31) Jesus fed the people in the desert too. (Mark 6:31-44) He won’t forget about you either.

God provided for them in the wilderness. God provided food and water. Even their shoes and clothing did not wear out. He provided a pillar of cloud to protect them from the sun by day and fire to give them warmth and light at night. God says “they lacked nothing.” (Exodus 1:21; Deuteronomy 2:4, 7; 29:5; Nehemiah 9:20-21)

God “gives grace” in the wilderness. (Jeremiah 31:2) He will also give you grace to go through your wilderness.

God gives mercy in the wilderness. (Nehemiah 9:19; Psalm 136:16)

God will keep you safe in your wilderness. (Ezekiel 34:25

Does all seem dark around you?

God shone His light on their way in the wilderness. (Nehemiah 9:19) He is still the same God today.

Have you lost your joy?

There is joy and singing in the desert. (Isaiah 35:2, 6; 51:3) Try singing in the midst of your “wilderness”.

Do you feel dry and barren?

God gives water in the wilderness, “to give drink to my people, my chosen.” (Deuteronomy 8:15: Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 78:15; 107:35; Isaiah 35:6-7; 41:18; 43:19-20; 48:21)

Are you thanking God for all these wonderful promises?

More next week.

 

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

 

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank you that you are the God of the wilderness. This is where you love to manifest your power and your presence. I thank you that I can experience your power and presence, even in my “terrible” wilderness. Amen.”

 

AFFIRMATION:

I will triumph even in my “terrible” wilderness.

 

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