Writing and Researching For  Christ Mission 

  

What is the wilderness?

In simple term, wilderness is an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region. It can also be seen as a neglected or abandoned area. Wilderness is also an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community. It is important to situate this argument; there are cases of Christians being in the wilderness. When this happens, it means people having an unusual experience like living in a strange land, such as the experience of Moses. People like Joseph and  Modekai were also in the wilderness at one time or the other. But, in this instance,  we are actually taking a look at the significance of the wilderness in communion with God and that literally translates to  getting close to God. Jesus Christ our Lord and savior for instance left for the wilderness shortly after he was baptized, while John the Baptist himself, practically lived in the wilderness, where he was reported to feed on honey and yam. The wilderness of the Bible is a liminal space—an in-between place where ordinary life is suspended, identity shifts, and new possibilities emerge

The Purpose of Wilderness in the Lives of God’s People. 

The Wilderness is a Place of Separation. God lets you be lonely, so that you can come to know Him as your friend. God let you to  be frightened and worried, so that you can come to know Him as your peace. God lets you to be weak, so that you can know His strength. In the wilderness, God reveals Himself. In the darkness of the wilderness, he is your light. In the confusing maze of the wilderness, you learn to let Him be your guide. In the wilderness, He separates you from the influence of the world as well as the people that you have learnt to depend on, so that you can learn to depend on him. The scripture said of the reasons God takes people to the wilderness: Therefore, behold , i will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably unto her’. Hosea 2:14. There is a word that stands out  in this verse of Hosea, the Lord said so that , I will speak comfortably to her.  Speaking comfortably to her people means that God recognizes that the noisy nature of the world will not make it possible for His people to clearly ear him; he would not be audible enough to their ears, if they are in the chaotic places of the world. 

Wilderness as a Place of Revelation

One of God's purposes in the wilderness is to reveal himself more completely to his people. For instance, when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, they knew little about God. Remember that when God called Moses at the burning bush, one of the first things he asked for was God's name! In the wilderness, Israel's understanding of God grew exponentially. The seminal event, of course, was the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. But in addition to this, God revealed his compassionate, yet just, character to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 34:6-7). And in following the pillar of cloud, the Israelites learned sensitivity to God's movements and guidance.

Examples and experiences of the People of God in the Wilderness 

People of God, including Moses, Joseph, Elijah, Paul, and even Jesus Christ all travelled through times in which God allowed them to experience the difficulties, temptations, and lessons learned in the wilderness. Now, let us examine those people, one after the other. Let us start with the Savior of Mankind, - Jesus Christ himself. 

Jesus and His Experience in the Wilderness

One would have expected that as an integral part of the Trinity, Jesus Christ would just go into the world and start his ministration, but that was not so. He also had his own wilderness experience. The scripture in Luke 4:1-2 revealed that  Jesus Christ full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he fasted  for forty days and he was later tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. This wilderness experience prepared Jesus for the great ministry that he did.  So, if Jesus Chris could go on a wilderness and still came out to be tempted by the devil, how much more myself and you?

Why was Jesus led into the wilderness?

According to the scripture, “The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him” (Matthew 4:1 CEV). Thus, Jesus’ journey into the wilderness began when he passed through the waters of baptism and was filled by the spirit of God: “So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove” (Matthew 3:16, CEV). Then the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, and the devil tested him, trying to convince him to use the power of God rather than relying upon the faithfulness of God. Jesus resisted the tempter’s call, even when brought to the mountain top and presented with the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:1-11).

Elijah and His Wilderness Experience. 

Elijah was terrified and fled into the desert, where he prayed for the Lord to take his life, then fell asleep under a broom tree. A messenger from the Lord came to him twice, urging him to eat and drink. After doing so, he journeyed 40 days in the wilderness to Mt. Horeb, where he hid in a cave.

How did Elijah get food in the wilderness?

The 450 Baal prophets were seized and killed on Mount Carmel. What a victory for Elijah! What a vindication for the true God of Israel!

No doubt, Elijah was reveling in this triumph. That is, until wicked Queen Jezebel heard about what had happened to her favored prophets and her favorite fertility god. Elijah’s triumph turned into a threat against his life. The queen sent a messenger to terrorize Elijah, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (1 Kings 19:2)

That’s when Elijah became afraid and ran for his life. He left his servant in Beersheba and traveled another day’s journey into the wilderness. There he sat under a broom tree and prayed that he would die. He said, “I’ve had enough, Lord. Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” Then he lay down and went to sleep under the broom tree. (1 Kings 18:3-5)

In this desolate place, God provides for Elijah by sending ravens to bring food — unlikely agents of God's provision as ravens were considered scavengers and the meat they would have brought would be considered unclean. But desperate times call for desperate measures and Elijah survives. God led Elijah to a dry land called Cherith east of the Jordan (1 Kings 17:3). He tells Elijah that he will drink from the brook and ravens will give him food (1 Kings 17:4). The amazing obedience and trust that Elijah shows come quickly after in verses 

Reasons why God Takes Us into the Wilderness

1. To Speak Tenderly with us: The wilderness is a lonely place wherein a beloved is forced to depend fiully on the lover because both equally are in love with each other. The Lord allure us and take us to the wilderness, so that we can learn to rely on him.

2.  To keep us as an apple of His eyes: The scripture says, the eyes of the Lord are fiery , pure eyes and those of love. Revelation 1:14. By bringing us  to this place, He keeps us in the center of His Love , purity and graciousness. He is protective about us by keeping us away from the corruption and pollution of the world

3. To feed us with manna so that our inner man is strengthened - Manna refers us to revelations and deeper mysteries of the Word of God. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; Deuteronomy‬ 8:16‬‬.‬

4. To satisfy us with His goodness - God brought the Israelites into the wilderness not to destroy them but to take them into the Promised Land of Canaan. Unfortunately, they lost their chance because of complaining and murmuring against God. 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. Nehemiah‬ 9:21‬‬‬

5. To find grace/favour - Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found favor in the wilderness [place of exile]–when Israel sought to find rest. Jeremiah‬ 31:2‬. Only through grace can we press forward in our spiritual walk.‬‬

6. To dwell safely in the wilderness - Even though there are scorpions, fiery serpents and wild beasts, nevertheless the Lord still brings us here to remove every fear and make us bold as a lion.

7. To help us experience the rest in Him - In this place, He speaks with us in a divine tongue, the language of love. Speaking in unknown tongues with the Lord gives us rest in our souls. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 1 Corinthians‬ 14:2‬, Isaiah 28:11,12.‬‬

Conclusion: 

It is important for us to know that the wilderness does not necessarily mean a bush or a place that is not inhabited by man. As the world is bereft of much of such, places, Christians can determine their own place of wilderness. The wilderness can be a secluded place that you personally earmarked for God to speak directly to him. Our God is a God of peace and calmness; he doesn’t operate in a Chaotic environment and he desires a solitary place. So, find Bretheren, I urge you in your Christian journey to find your wilderness where you will enjoy an uninterrupted intercourse with God. Shalom!

This message is coming to you from the Stable of Writing and Researching For Christ Mission. We can be reached tentatively via 90,ilugun-Itoko Community, Ajangboun road, Abeokuta. E mail: waheedogunjobi@gmail.com or 08035004741.