God had taken the children of Israel out of bondage in a spectacular display of His power. Each plague brought upon the Egyptians precisely performed to demoralize every one of their pagan gods. God had shown Himself to be the one true God. Just as the blood of Jesus redeems us from the bondage of sin, it was the sacrifice of the perfect lamb established during the Passover that both gave the people their life and their freedom from bondage. God then led the people through the Hazardous Wilderness to the bottom of Mount Sinai that they might see Him, hear His Voice, and witness His Glory. They found redemption. All a picture of Jesus. It was through the Hazardous Wilderness that they met God. How is Jesus Joyfully found in our lives? Often it is through the hazardous wilderness of life that we find Jesus, Joy, and Life Eternal.
He did not take them along the shortest route, nor the one well-trodden. He took them through the wilderness, farther from their destination. Why? Because they needed to learn so much more before they would realize their need for Him and His Gracious love and provision for them. Isn’t that the case for us as well? We believe we can do it on our own. We cry out to God only when everything falls apart. Just like the Israelite, we say, “I can do everything you want. Look how righteous, generous, and kind I am. Aren’t you glad, God that you chose me to be your child?” That was me at age fifteen, right before I wandered into the hazardous wilderness where darkness, fear, and despair surrounded me.
Jesus Joyfully Found Me
In the wilderness, Jesus joyfully found me. How could He have been so joyous? Because He knew that only then could He truly transform my heart. He comforted me, cradled me, and carried me out on Eagles wings. Only in the hazardous wilderness could I learn to let go of pride and foolish desires. There I learned to trust Him to swoop in and uphold me with His righteous right Hand. Where is Jesus joyously found? How many treacherous years filled with moments of fear, failure, and hopelessness woven intricately with brief moments of immense joy as I watched the mighty hand of God weave the threads of my life. Jesus joyfully found me each time I strayed. Because of His overwhelming love, I learned to find my joy in Him.
In my darkest nights, where loneliness overwhelmed me, He was there with me. He was my strength when I faced the sudden loss of Pete. After all, my life wrapped itself so much around him, his well-being, his needs. I had to lean in hard to God for healing and for His healing of my sons. So much they had faced, and I learned my love was not enough to heal anyone—only God could do that.
In His Prescence
Again, this was true 4 years later as I battled chemotherapy and then the ulcerative colitis that awakened me with severe pain and bleeding every morning at 4 am. I found myself searching for Him, seated in my recliner with my Bible in my lap. My recliner I placed in my closet near the bathroom so as not to awaken my sons. Those years I learned the importance of true worship and fellowship with God through Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. I learned I could not start any day without Him first.
Jesus Joyfully Found and Healed Me
How precious that truth was when my ileostomy bag would break every morning around 3 am. Crawling out of bed, putting the pads into the wash, I would then shower and sit on the bed shivering cold and alone trying with all my might to clean and place a new bag before the gushing would begin. One to two hours I would do this until finally completed, by then I would get ready for work. How joyful I was to know my children were away at college and did not have to know any of this then. Also, in the worst of times, I knew Mom would come over to help. I only had to call.
By then, the hazardous wilderness had become a companion in a sense. Like a blanket in the coldest night, Jesus joyously found me, covered me, and drew me closer to Him. Could I trust Him as I do were it not for the hazardous wilderness? Only He knew how desperately I needed His healing. Oh, not so much from the illnesses, but from the wickedness lurking deep within my own heart. That is why I understand the children of Israel and their struggles of heart to get it right and to believe.
God Led Them Through the Hazardous Wilderness to Meet Him
16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the entire mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder. 20 Then the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them perish. Exodus 19 (NASB)
Although they had seen God’s wrath and judgement against the Egyptians and their gods, they were not truly prepared to meet God.
Was Jesus Joyfully Found in the Hazardous Wilderness?
Their most joyous moment appeared immediately after being saved. Jesus is the deliverer and the Passover lamb, even if they did not fully comprehend yet. They joyfully sang this song to their deliverer.
I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;
The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
The Lord is His name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The waters cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, Lord, is majestic in power;
Your right hand, Lord, destroys the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of Your excellenceYou overthrow those who rise up against You;
Genesis 15 (NASB)
You send out Your burning anger, and it consumes them like chaff.
8 At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,
The flowing waters stood up like a heap;
The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils;
shall be satisfied against them;
I will draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.’
10 You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like You among the gods, Lord?
Who is like You, majestic in holiness,
Awesome in praises, working wonders?
12 You reached out with Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 In Your faithfulness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation.
14 The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom were terrified;
The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired.
16 Terror and dread fall upon them;
By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone,
Until Your people pass over, Lord,
Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
17 You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,
The place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling,
The sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
Yet, that joy quickly faded into the mundane life as always. That is true of many of us as well. We sometimes need a close encounter again to grow. Otherwise, we tend to forget how glorious His Salvation is.
A Close Encounter with God’s Glory
Although they realized God was Holy and Fiercely powerful, they did not expect to see His power to be displayed on the mountain so gloriously. They were His chosen people and so different from their Egyptian masters, or were they? Sounds a lot like society today when they speak of Jesus. They want a baby meek and mild willing to sacrifice everything; but never display His wrath against the sin that destroys each of us from within and surrounds us.
Those who accept Jesus are freed by His blood. Essentially, Mount Sinai is a symbol of our sin and a reminder of our need for a Savior. The people could not even touch the ground of the mountain because of the holiness of God and their unholiness in their sin. We are reminded at Mount Sinai of the seriousness of our sins and the division that they cause between us and our Heavenly Father. We are also given newfound gratitude that we no longer live under the law of sin, but the law of liberty through Christ Jesus.
Mount Sinai is still applicable to the believer today because when we love God, we delight in obeying Him. We know that His ways are ultimately what are best for us and will bless us in the end. James 1:25 says, “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”1
Jesus Joyously Found in the Song of Moses
And Moses Sang:
“Listen, you heavens, and I will speak;
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth!
2 May my teaching drip as the rain,
My speech trickle as the dew,
As droplets on the fresh grass,
And as the showers on the vegetation.
3 For I proclaim the name of the Lord;
Ascribe greatness to our God!
4 The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and just is He. Deuteronomy 32 (NASB)
Therefore, How Is Jesus Joyously Found in the Hazardous Wilderness?
In the wilderness we come face to face with our own unrighteousness. That truth then magnifies the magnificence of His Grace. Only then can we truly embrace and abide in His steadfast Love for us. There only is Jesus Joyously found
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.
20 For they could not cope with the command, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12: (NASB)
The Unshaken Kingdom
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12 (NASB)
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
1 Emma Danzay; What is Mount Sinai in the Bible; March 24, 2023; viewed 2/10/24; What Is Mount Sinai in the Bible – Location and Importance (biblestudytools.com)
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved
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