Today’s Reading : Deuteronomy 27-31;Luke 12
Desolation. Isolation. Despair.
These are some of the words that come to mind when I think of the wilderness. About 20 years ago, I had a wilderness experience. Some friends of mine were getting married. This was the one of the first weddings that I attended as an adult. This particular wedding was in Plainview, TX. It was about six hours away from Dallas. This city was close to Lubbock. When I was driving to the city, the scenery was completely desert and Hill Country. There was no cities or lights for miles and miles around. I can still remember that drive. It was a beautiful drive, but there was nothing around. You could literally look out for hundreds of miles with nothing around. That’s what I see when I read about the wilderness experiences for the Hebrews and Moses. But as always, I have had a renewal of my mind and of my understanding.
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 29:2-6
In today’s reading, my idea of the biblical wilderness shifts. There are several wilderness experiences that are happening in the Bible. Some of the most memorable ones are: the 40 years in the wilderness with Moses; the wilderness experience of Elijah; the wilderness experience of John the Baptist; and the wilderness experience of Jesus. In each one of these wilderness experiences, the protagonist is given: rest, refreshment, and renewal, in each of their experiences.
For Moses, God provided nourishment every day for 40 years that they were in the wilderness. They did not need to worry about protection, because God was with them. And in this passage, we see that their clothes never wore out. I have three kids and their clothes are constantly changing on a quarterly basis. And to have the idea that after 40 years are close we’re still new is mind-boggling.
The wilderness experience for Elijah, he was provided for food by ravens and a stream.
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
I Kings 17: 1-7
The wilderness experience with John the Baptist, he was sustained on wild honey and locus. When you think about the only food that was given to him seemed small but it was to stay and he was filled daily.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a] 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare[b] the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt 3:1-4
And then the wilderness experience for Christ, he was renewed and he became full into his ministry during his 40 days in the wilderness.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matt 4: 1-2
These wilderness experiences are not isolating or full of despair. These wilderness experiences allow the individual to create peace and be calm in what God has set aside for them. During this wilderness time God has made them holy. This time God has created new life for a bigger purpose. So when we see the wilderness, what are we seeing? How is God setting aside for his bigger purpose?
As we are completing our Lenten journey and coming into Holy week, may God allow us to be renewed, and refresh to fulfill his purpose in our common days.
Be blessed