Part of the pattern for life that God gave us is to expect and to cope with living in the wilderness. It is where all of His people initially go to worship Him before they reach the Promised Land. We see the Promised Land described as a distant city of gold where we feast on ice cream (milk and honey). The Bible also tells us that these are only vague descriptions of what will be abundant joy. This topic is the wilderness but for more on the whole pattern for life check out Passover to Chavuot.
Worshipping in the Wilderness
In the Pentateuch the wandering takes place in the midbar
meaning uninhabited land or pasture. This common Hebrew word describes the place where domestic animals may be grazed. The wilderness lies in stark contrast to the great metropolis of Egypt. One was the best of civilization and the other was only fit for animals.
For Christians the real saga starts with God hearing our groaning in Egypt.
Exodus 2:23-25 (KJV) And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. .
Our groaning in Egypt leads to God providing a way out of the bondage that would otherwise lead to our eternal death. The Children of Israel faced extinction as they were instructed to kill their own males.
Exodus 1:22 (KJV) And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
In Exodus 2-3 we see that God prepares a deliverer. Moses was miraculously prepared for the job from a baby. He was saved from the bulrushes and raised in Pharaoh's house. Because of his zeal to deliver his people he murdered an Egyptian and escaped into Midian. When he was 80 years old God called him back to deliver His people. This is the main content of Exodus 3-4. Moses was now a messiah, Egypt was sin and Pharaoh was its chief agent.
Once Moses came on the scene things got even worse.
Exodus 5:1-18 (KJV) And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. 3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. 4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. 5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. 6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. 10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. 11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished. 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. 14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore? 15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? 16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. 17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD. 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
God affirms His commitment to delivering them.
Exodus 6:5-7 (KJV) And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
It took ten brutal plagues for Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This is the subject of Exodus 7-11.
From a Christian perspective this is already our story. God determines to free us from the bondage of sin perhaps because the spirit in us groans to Him. We become aware that there is something wrong with this world and we realise that we need some distance. The problem is that we don't really know how to accomplish that. However He does it, God identifies us as His and we are called to serve Him.
Exodus 7:16 (KJV) And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.
Exodus 8:1 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
The plagues indicate that the chief agent of sin (Satan) has to be forced to release us and that brings us to how we start our journey through the wilderness. While preserving us by the blood of His atoning sacrifice God establishes a memorial to help us to stay focused (Exodus 12:1-28). That is covered by Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread but we eventually step out of the Red Sea and into the future that we were promised.
God provides our needs for our journey from the hands of our oppressors.
Exodus 11:2-3 (KJV) Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.
Exodus 12:35-36 (KJV) And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
During our escape we are led by God.
Exodus 13:18 (KJV) But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
Exodus 13:21-22 (KJV) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
God also continues to provide our needs thereafter.
Deuteronomy 8:3-4 (KJV) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
Deuteronomy 29:5-6 (KJV) And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. 6 Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.
Nehemiah 9:21 (KJV) Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Psalms 105:37-41 (KJV) He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. 40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
The way out of sin is blocked
We reach the border of sin but our way is blocked.
Exodus 13:20 (KJV) And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
Exodus 14:1-3 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
Now Succoth is the same place that Jacob had separated from Laban.
Genesis 33:17 [KJV] And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Laban had been warned about touching Israel and so was Egypt. It was always intended to be a staging areas because he made only temporary accommodations. Now the adversary seeks to return us into captivity to sin and we are pursued by our oppressors.
Exodus 14:5-31 (KJV) And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
Israel's faith was weak. With the plagues they had seen God do marvellous things to deliver them. Now in the last seven days they had seen the miracle of His guidance by the cloud and fire. Even after all that was done for them they began to grumble. Fear is a natural thing but disrespect is something that we have to control. If we are afraid and cry out to God that is one thing but grumbling and stirring up discontent is another matter. This is something that we have to ask God to help us outgrow. God had started to give them the evidence of His providence but their hearts were not changing. God makes a way of safety for us to escape sin and death just as happened in verses 19-22 above.
The Wilderness Journey Begins
That background is critical because we very soon forget it. We forget what life was really like in Egypt and we forget the miracle that brought us out, if we even ever stop to consider it.
At the end of that first Passover season, shortly after they crossed the Red Sea, they had a party honouring God. This is found in Exodus 15:1-21. My own belief is that this was during the last day of unleavened bread so that the evening of the Last Day of Unleavened Bread was when they crossed the Red Sea. It serves as a striking example to Christians. This marks a turning point where God had done His part in releasing us from the dominance of sin allegorised by taking them out of Egypt and away from Pharaoh. They had begun to enter His rest. It was now their part to move on to complete God's dominance by putting God's Spirit within. There is no more Pharaoh to blame; from now on in it is just us. We are Israel at the sea where God has just released us from some sin by crushing Satan's power over us. So after three days under our own volition what happens? According to the little boy from The Incredibles
it goes something like we're dead, we're dead, we're still breathing but we're dead
! The water that they found was bitter so the true us
comes out.
Exodus 15:22-24 (KJV) So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
In other words, what am I supposed to do now that you have taken me away from my wonderful sin? So this is probably now about eleven days after they left Egypt and three days after God crushes the power of Pharaoh (Satan). Pharaoh is no longer controlling their actions. Problems will come but how we react is entirely our own responsibility. In the rest of Exodus 15 God gives us a pep talk and reminds us that He is not going to allow us to be sick if we obey Him and He gives us a refreshing rest by an oasis. Then we move again. So give us another two weeks. Now remember that there is nothing in the Bible to tie down the crossing of the Red Sea with Unleavened bread but there is a date on the next incident. Exodus 16:1(KJV) . . .which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the SECOND month after their departing out of the land of Egypt
.
Dealing with adversity
Dealing with adversity means dealing with two issues above all else. The first is Complaining and the second is Golden Calves. I deal with Golden Calves (rationalization) in a separate article. With regard to complaining, it should bring to mind Jacob and how he became Israel instead of complaining about his hip. James said we should bring things to God and Jacob shows how to hold on until the blessing.
Jacob
The incident is recorded in Genesis 32:22-32. Jacob was running away from Esau. We break into the story when Jacob was alone at night.
Genesis 32:24-27 [KJV] And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Even with the injury to his thigh Jacob would not let go until he received God's favour. He needed God but God did not need Him and Jacob understood that. Jacob rose above his discomfort and his fear. We know that Jacob feared God.
Genesis 28:16-18 [KJV] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
Jacob did not let those things keep him from a blessing. He remained focused on what was important. He did not complain about Esau or drop snide remarks about his own condition. We tend to drop remarks about people and complain about God instead of to Him. James shows us a different way.
James 1:2-8 [KJV] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Instead of following this advice we do like Israel and let our tongues get us into deep trouble. The whole of James chapter 3 is important in this but consider this critical part.
James 3:3-8 [KJV] Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
That is the condition that drives us to drop remarks and complain and anger God instead of just appealing to Him in humility. Israel retained this attitude of not moving from their comfort zone but worshipping in their tent doors.
Isaiah 1:16-20 [KJV] Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
So what are we going to do? Stick with our pride or listen to James and Isaiah.
Withdrawal symptoms from sin
This is about two weeks after the bitter water incident.
Exodus 16:2-4 (KJV) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Notice v3 I wish I was dead
. My sin provided all that I needed and now you have taken it away and given me a life worse than death. Anyhow God fixed the water problem and now He fixes the food problem. Notice that the Children of Israel by this time observed the Sabbath even though they may not have known it. God always showed them when to move and when to rest. In explaining why no manna will be there one day each week they become aware of the Sabbath. If God sticks to His guns about the Sabbath why would He leave out the other Holy Days? This is one reason why I believe that Israel was keeping the Holy days all along without knowing it. Let us look back at Exodus 13:21-22, And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
If He was not working on the Sabbath they could not move because the cloud would not move. He showed them when to move and when to rest. They just did not know why. This was probably the middle week between Passover and Pentecost.
Mark tells us what happened to them. Cares of this world can choke the goodness out of us.
Mark 4:19 (KJV) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Leaving the cares of this world comes at a cost. The Prosperity Gospel contradicts the Bible and the experience of the Church in both the Old and New Testaments. Once we leave Egypt we enter the wilderness and wilderness means austerity. Let's go back a while and examine the story of Lot.
Genesis 13:10-13 (KJV) And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Abraham and Lot parted ways because their herds were too big to be kept together. Lot chose to live in cities but Abraham remained in the wilderness. Being immersed in the perverseness of society took its toll on him. When we pick up the story of Lot in Genesis 19, Lot has compromised his peace of mind for the comforts of Sodom. Lot knew of the dangers and the debauchery that surrounded him but was willing to put up with it even though it irritated him (II Peter 2:7). It began to affect his judgement so that he was willing to sacrifice the purity of his virgin daughters (Genesis 19:7-8). Becoming attached to the comforts offered by that decadent society perverted the mind of his wife and she yearned to go back.
Genesis 19:23-26 [KJV] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
It also cost him his sons-in-law and maybe two daughters. The daughters that went with Lot were virgins so if the marriages to the the sons-in-law were consummated it meant that two daughters remained with them. There is a cost in spiritual and eternal things to being a part of Egypt/Sodom but it is hard to tear ourselves away. Most people accept the cost and slowly die inside like an addict. To live we have to endure the withdrawal.
be content with the wilderness for now
Wilderness life is harsh but it helps us to draw close to God. When Christ was to be tempted He went into the wilderness. Matthew 4:1 [KJV] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil
. The harshness buttressed His inner strength to deal with Satan.
In Luke 10 we read about Martha who was too bothered about physical things.
Luke 10:38-42 KJV Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Christ warns us about being caught up with the cares of this life.
Luke 12:22-24 (KJV) And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luke 14:26-27 (KJV) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 (KJV) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 21:34-36 (KJV) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
This ties in with other scriptures.
Colossians 3:2 (KJV) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
James 1:27 (KJV) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
To escape with our lives we sacrifice the pleasures of life in sin to reach the wilderness. Wilderness life has many dangers too and it is only because God is with us that we are kept safe and have enough. Israel had to deal with poisonous water, lack of crops, dangerous predators and more. In the city comforts are easily available but tainted, while in the wilderness they are sparse. We may be tempted to complain. We can't find proper entertainment, the food is not appropriate or the clothes are irreverent, however remember that Exodus 15:25 says that God proved them. He wanted to find out whom He was really dealing with and not just their superficial stance.
Exodus 15:23-25 (KJV) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
The correct behaviour is explained in James.
James 1:6-8 (KJV) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
That is not to say that it is all bad. Sometimes the journey is pleasant and we can rest contented.
Exodus 15:27 (KJV) And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
Numbers 33:9 (KJV) And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.
We have to be careful not to forget the truth about where we came from, or life on the other side and paint it as some utopia while we disrespect the providence of the Lord.
Exodus 16:2-3 (KJV) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Sometimes we feel like we need a break from the lack of things to sustain our lives. We cannot become like Israel and murmur but ask in faith, because God can provide in ways that we cannot predict (like manna) or in amazing ways (like the quail).
Exodus 16:13-15 (KJV) And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. 14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
We need to avoid having our judgement in serving God impaired by mind altering substances. Nadab and Abihu were destroyed for offering strange incense.
Leviticus 10:1-3 (KJV) And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
Leviticus 16:1 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
But the warning against alcohol that immediately follows suggest that their judgement was temporarily impaired by it.
Leviticus 10:8-11 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
We need to be careful not to let the actions of other people drive us to disrespect God like Moses when he struck the rock. In Exodus 17:6 Moses had been told to strike the rock.
Exodus 17:6 (KJV) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Later in Numbers 20:8 he was told to speak to the rock.
Numbers 20:8 (KJV) Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
But it appears that Moses was so upset that he was not thinking straight and he struck the rock as before. As a result he could not enter the rest, the Promised Land.
Numbers 20:12 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Isaac had twins: Jacob and Esau. Jacob became Israel. According to the Bible, Amalek was the son of Eliphaz who was a son of Esau (Genesis 36:16) and a duke or chief meaning that he had subjects and territory. These are basically family but in Christianity the course of life can bring us into conflict with those close to us. They can attempt to block our efforts to follow Christ. In His own time God will destroy those who (like the Amalekites) block our efforts to reach our Promised Land.
Exodus 17:13 (KJV) And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Deuteronomy 25:17-18 (KJV) Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
Of course there are several other lessons to be learned like believing the evil report of the spies.
Let us conclude with an admonition from John.
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We spend our entire Christian lives in the wilderness. The life of a Christian is a life of austerity but it is worth it.
Hebrews 12:2 [KJV] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Christ went through what He did because He understood that there was a tremendous joy to come. We have to believe Him and keep our minds on that. I know that it is hard to sacrifice spending time with friends and family but remember that we are doing it for them too. We are building a Kingdom with Christ that we will share with those whom we love, so focus on when we are reunited. Will they be ashamed because we did not have the fortitude to persevere for them or will we greet them with joy and with something wonderful to offer them?
