Song of Songs 8:5; “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?

We have been discovering all the wonderful things that God did for the children of Israel in the desert. “But that was just for them,” you say. “Can God do these things personally for me?”

Let’s look at some personal testimonies.

The desert is where God prepares us for His purposes for our lives.

It was in the desert, the deepest part of the desert, that Moses had an encounter with the mighty God. He stood on holy ground in the desert. God kept him in that desert for forty long years, but he came out ready to deliver a nation from the tyranny of Egypt. (Acts 7:30-38)

David was forced into the desert to hide from the wrath of King Saul, but while in that desert he raised an army of men. The wilderness is a training ground for the battle. (1 Samuel 22:2; 23:14-15, 24:1; 26:3; 1 Chronicles 12:1-15)  

John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Lord in the wilderness. (Mark 1:1-7; Luke 1:15-17, 80)

After Paul’s conversion, he went into seclusion -- into the desert of Arabia, where he heard “unspeakable words” from God.  I wonder if he went to Horeb, the Mountain of God, where Moses met God. (2 Corinthians 12:1-7; Galatians 1:17)

The desert is where we learn to overcome.

Jesus won the victory over Satan in the wilderness and came forth to minister in the power of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 4:1-11) Notice that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. He was not out of God’s will but in the very center of His will while in the desert.

The desert is where we lose the lure for the things of the world.

After being in the desert for 40 years, Moses went right back into the pride and wealth of Egypt, but it had no hold upon him. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

The desert is where we learn to walk by faith.

Psalm 78:16-18 says, “And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, ‘Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?’”

They did not believe God could provide for them. But God did not let them out of the desert until they had learned the walk of faith.

The desert is where we learn dependence upon God.

Oh what a beautiful picture we see of the bride of Christ in Song of Solomon 8:5, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?”

During the wilderness experience, God’s people found that it didn’t work to rely on their own strength. They learned in the desert to rely totally on God’s strength. There was no other way. Moses tried to help his people in his own strength when he killed the Egyptian, but it failed. God had to work on him for 40 years in the desert before he was ready to deliver his people from the power of Egypt.

It’s your attitude!

Are you going through a difficult wilderness experience right now? Don’t despair. You are going through your wilderness. Yes, you are going through! There is an end! But according to your attitude to your problems you will either die (spiritually) in your wilderness or come out victorious. Or you will either come out hurt and bitter, or with the sweet anointing of the presence of God upon you.

Because the children of Israel were full of unbelief, and grumbled and complained about their hardships the challenges they had to face, they all died in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb came through!

Joshua came forth to lead God’s people into battle and to take the Promised Land. (Joshua 1:6-7)

Caleb came forth ready to take mountains and tackle giants. (Joshua 14:6-15)

David came forth ready to reign over God’s people, Israel. (2 Samuel 5:3)

Paul came forth to be a mighty apostle.

How will you come through?

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“I thank you, Lord that you are bringing me through the wilderness. Please help me to have the right attitude. Help me to see that this is all part of your plan and that you are preparing me for your purposes. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

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:

Deuteronomy 8: 14-16, “The Lord thy God… who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought… that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.” Read also Deuteronomy 1:19.

Are you going through a desert time in your life? Does it seem a “terrible” experience? Perhaps you feel as though God has forsaken you. Your life seems dry and meaningless.

Please don’t despair. Your wilderness experience is not a time to grovel and complain. It is your opportunity to see the power and provision of God. You can see more miracles from God in your wilderness experience than at any other time. The children of Israel did not accidentally land up in the wilderness. God commanded them to go in. They were not out of the will of God. It was their place of preparation and proving.

Granted, it was not a smooth road! They faced serpents and scorpions. They endured hunger and thirst. They went through “the shadow of death.” They could not survive without the help of God. Nor can you. But look up! As you take your eyes off the “terrible” wilderness and trust in God, you will be in for some SURPRISES.

Let me show you want can happen in the wilderness. Look up these wonderful Scriptures, claim them, and start thanking God for your wilderness experience. Thank Him for each individual promise.

Have you lost direction?

God guided and led His people in the wilderness. (Exodus 1:21; Deuteronomy 8:2, 15; 29:5; 32:10; Psalm 68:7; 78:52; 136:16; Amos 2:10) God led His people into the wilderness, through the wilderness and out of the wilderness. He will lead you through your wilderness too. And remember, your wilderness is only for a season. God will lead you out into all that He has planned for you. Look beyond your problems to where God is taking you. But He will only take you on when you are ready and He has proved you in the wilderness.

God instructed them in the wilderness. (Deuteronomy 32:10). The Hebrew word for “instruct” is “bin” which means “understanding, insight and discernment”. You will have insight into God’s ways in your wilderness experience far more than when you are on the easy path.

God makes a way in the wilderness. (Isaiah 43:19) Can you see no way out of the difficulties that you are in? Keep trusting God. He will make a way. He is your God, even in the wilderness.

God spoke to His people in the wilderness. (Exodus 19:16-19; Numbers 1:1; 3:14; 9:1) Sometimes God has to take you into a desert place in your life so that you can hear Him speak to you. The desert is quiet and free from distractions. You can hear His voice more clearly than when taken up with the “successful” busy rat-race of this life.

    God will get your attention in the wilderness. (Psalm 29:8)

    God will speak to you face to face in the wilderness. (Ezekiel 20:35-36)

    God will speak tenderly in the wilderness. (Hosea 2:14)

God used His servant Balaam to prophecy blessing and direction four times over His people in the desert. (Numbers 23:8-10; 18-24; 24:1-9; 15-19)

Have you lost all hope?

The wilderness is the place for miracles. (Numbers 14:22) God will do miracles for you too. Believe Him.

Watch out for more SUPRISES next week.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:

“Oh Lord, I thank you that you are the God of the wilderness. I thought I was finished, but now I see this is just the beginning of your dealings with me. I thank you that even in my hopeless situation you will speak to me and reveal more of yourself to me. I am listening, Lord. Amen.”

 

Affirmation:

Mark 10:21, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him. One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” 

I love these words, “Jesus beholding him loved him.” He loved him with a pure love, a deep love, an intense love. But it was a different love than we often experience. Jesus’ love was not motivated by feelings. It was motivated by seeing the highest potential for this man.

This rich man had just told Jesus that he had observed all the commandments from his youth. Our love may have responded, “My, what a great guy you are you. You have lived faithfully and well.” But Jesus’ response was, “One thing thou lackest…” This does not sound very much like love, does it? It sounds more like a rebuke. But it was the highest level of love.

Our Savior and Redeemer is not satisfied to leave us in the state that we are in. Because of His great love for us, He wants to take us on further. He wants to draw us closer to Him. We wants to take us out of our deceptions and lead us into His truth. He exposes our sins to bring us to repentance and lead us on to holiness. There are times when He allows us to go through difficulties to prove our faith. He allows us to go through trials so that we can find that He is the God who is Enough.

When things in life are tough and you may even be tempted to think that God has forgotten you, remember! Remember that God’s love is leading you on to greater heights of understanding and greater depths of the knowledge of Him. He will stir up your nest to teach you to fly. He will put challenges in your life to teach you to overcome. He may even allow you to suffer so you can experience the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings.

One of my favorite Scriptures is Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Your walk in Christ is a more and more walk. There is always more that God wants to do in your life to conform you to the likeness of Christ.

I believe we have a little understanding of this kind of love as parents. Our love for our children goes beyond making them happy and giving them a lovely life. True love grieves when they are disobedient and therefore disciplines. True loves knows that we must teach our children obedience, or they will be handicapped. They will not know how to obey God and therefore receive the blessings of God.

True love is not content for our children to be born again only. We intercede and groan in prayer that Christ will be formed in them. We are not content unless they walk in the fullness of Christ. We cry out continually to God that they will walk in His perfect will and advance the kingdom of God on earth. We desire this for them because we love them. Because of this, we will correct negative behavior. We will not allow disobedience. We will not allow moods and pouting. We will not allow lying. We will curb the gratifying of the flesh. We will deal with the things that will hinder them from being all God’s wants them to be.

Why? Because, beholding our children, we love them! And we will only be satisfied when God’s highest purposes are worked in their lives.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord, I yield my life to you. I allow you to work in me so that Christ will be formed in me. Lord, this is also my prayer for my children. Please give me wisdom to lead them on in your ways. Save me from ruining their lives by allowing sin and negative behavior to continue. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION: