Greetings again my Brethren. Wow here we are starting our 14th year by the grace of God. I so thank the LORD and all who have stood with us and BHG, may the LORD richly bless and keep each and every person who supported us through prayer, finances, or any other means.
After Moses’ initial attempt to deliver his people from the iron hand of Pharaoh was a complete failure God had to take him literally to the desert to drain him of all of his self-sufficiency and self life. In the Book of Exodus we read, “Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.” (Exodus 2:15-22) Moses was on the run from Pharaoh for his life, but in reality he was on the run for the death of his self-life. Did you know God has a desert for us too? Not the physical desert that Moses endured, but a wilderness: a time of many many troubles, confusion, dissatisfactions, and distractions. A time of many many misunderstandings, offenses, arguments, challenges to our self, but all meant to refine and define our character. This is what God was after in the life of Moses and this is what God is after in our lives. The wilderness at first glance is a barren land with no life, full of rocks and snags, no well watered place to sink our roots into where our self life can thrive. Oh no it is stark, gray, and dark, but it is the place of spiritual growth and development as Moses found out. It is the place where we go and get alone with God, where we can yell and no one will hear us, except God. It is the place we learn to lean on our beloved (Jesus Christ) where we learn to keep our peace, where we learn to speak when we must speak and be silent when it is time to be silent. It is the place of spiritual growth and maturity in God. In the Song of Solomon we read, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5) The “who” is the one who enters into the wilderness and learns to lean on their beloved. Not the one who goes into the wilderness many Christians go through tough and trying things in their lives, but if they never learn to lean on their beloved (Jesus Christ) then their time in the wilderness is all for naught. And they will stay in the wilderness (if they have a heart for God) until they learn the lessons they must learn. Yes the wilderness is a wonderful place and as we learn and grow we will find out time spent to be quite satisfying even when we return again and again we will not be so afraid, we will know the purpose and God’s intention for our visit. Learning is to be this way. The more we learn the easier learning is to become. So true in God. The more we learn the more we can apply to what we need to learn next. We even see this divine spiritual principle in little children as they learn. Before they can learn algebra they first must learn what 2 + 2 equals. And as they learn the basic skills they can go on to more difficult skills and lessons. So Moses now in the desert (in a wilderness of God’s and his doing) it is now time for him to learn. The way back to Egypt and his friends was by way of the desert. The way ahead for Moses was found in the desert. All that God had for Moses was not found anywhere, but the desert of Midian. There God ordained Moses’ appointment and there God would meet Moses on many occasions. Moses did not know where he was he thought he was running from Pharaoh, but in reality he was running into God’s loving hands so God could kill his self-sufficiency. God had a plan for Moses’ life as He has a plan for all of our lives and before God could use Moses He had to kill the self-life, ambition, presumption, arrogance, and so much the more in Moses’ life. And my friend this process is very painful and at times it hurts, but this is the place and the time God has for all of His children to grow up. In verse 21 we read Moses was “content” a wonderful place to be when God is dealing and judging in our lives. Maybe you find contentment when you stumble into the wilderness.
Next month we will see how 40 years in the desert changed Moses from a “somebody” into a “nobody.” Now there is the place God can really use us. Can you hear Him now?
