The Wilderness
In Exodus we see the Israelites leaving the slavery of Egypt on the way to the Promised Land. To get to the “Land flowing with milk and honey” the Chosen People of God had to go through the wilderness.
Why the wilderness? We are talking about a desolate, desert country with few trees, mostly scrub brush, and a whole lot of nothing except for The Presence of God.
God was there! In the middle of the wilderness, God was there.
“And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.”
Exodus 33:9-10 NKJV
These people had lived in Egypt all of their lives. They knew the lineage they came from and how their people came to live in Egypt but they had never known life outside of Egypt.
The first thing God did in their liberation from bondage was to get them out of their situation.
“Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said.”
Exodus 12:31 NKJV
If you read the whole story you see over and over the Israelites complaining about everything. Here they are in the very Presence of God saying things like:
“And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.””
Exodus 16:3 NKJV
When Moses went up to the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments they got tired of waiting:
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.””
Exodus 32:1 NKJV
“And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!””
Exodus 32:4 NKJV
So they insist that Aaron build an idol, most probably an Apis bull-calf, like they would have worshiped in Egypt. What??
It seems unbelievable to us as armchair quarterbacks that the Chosen People of God would do anything like this. But, the truth is in some way we all do. When we haven’t heard from God for in a while, when we pray for direction, when we feel stuck in the wilderness and are waiting for God to move. We lose focus and start looking in other directions for an answer or a way out. Maybe we look to another person to help us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.”
Psalms 118:8 NKJV
Maybe we think we can spend our way out:
“Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—”
Psalms 49:6-7 NKJV
Maybe we think someone we know of influence can help us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.”
Psalms 118:9 NKJV
Maybe we think we can just power over the wilderness and find a way out:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
Psalms 20:7 NKJV
Whatever it is, it’s not God!
These people witnessed daily the presence of God and still looked elsewhere for help. God went before them day and night. God fed them and clothed them. They could visibly see the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
“He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”
Exodus 13:22 NKJV
No, God brought them into the wilderness because His Presence was there. He didn’t just have to get them out of Egypt, He had to get Egypt out of them! This was a time of cleansing and sanctification. This was a time for learning who God IS and drawing close to Him. This is the time you discover your absolute dependence on God.
“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
Exodus 33:11 NKJV
“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””
Exodus 33:14 NKJV
And Moses said:
“Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 33:15 NKJV
Lord, if Your Presence does not go with us we would rather stay in the wilderness with You then live in the Promised Land without You. Lord help us to endure and have faith. Give us strength in the wilderness. Let Your presence be known in our struggle. Lord take the Egypt out of us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Lead us, guide us, and protect us Lord. Draw us close to You Lord. You are our portion and provision. God, You are our strength and salvation. To God be the Glory forever and ever, in Jesus Name -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
-Pastor Doug
