The Passover was established. Salvation promised through the Passover lamb. Jesus would one day arrive as the perfect Passover lamb, paying the price for all who would believe. The people were freed from Egyptian slavery. And all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are freed from the slavery of sin. No longer does sin have dominion over the spirit and soul of anyone who have been saved. However, the Israelites were not ready to serve God. They would have to go through the Desert first. And just like them we often must go through many trials before our hearts are truly transformed. Therefore, can we learn to be joyfully trusting God during the desert experiences of life? And if so, how?
After all God promised that all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28). God is good (I Chronicles 16:34) He will accomplish all that He has planned. (Isaiah 46:8-9). And furthermore, He will accomplish all that concerns me. (Psalm 138:8). Whatever desert experience is necessary to transform me into His likeness, I must walk through on my way to the promised land. The desert is a harsh place to be. There are moments of fear, hunger, and thirst; but He is there to lead us by day and night. If only we will keep our eyes on Him.
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6
From Tyranny into Desert Experiences
What should have been a short, straight journey across the desert to the promised land proved to be an arduous journey for the nation of Israel. Barely having passed through the Red Sea so miraculously, they were quick to forget all the miracles witnessed in Egypt leading to their freedom.
Every plaque designed to demonstrate that God is the only true God. Every Egyptian god was fake and failed. After all the people had been there 400 years. Naturally some of the Egyptian ideas had infiltrated the people’s minds. They needed to see the truth. God established the Passover to save the people. Thereby God set the stage for the Messiah to come one day. With all that, well there should be no doubt of God’s power and might. No question left unanswered. Then topping it all off with the parting of the red sea and the drowning of the pursuing enemy. Certainly, God had done everything to prove His might, establish His purpose, and demonstrate His love for His people. But 45 days later.
Exodus 16 (NET).
When they journeyed from Elim, the entire company of Israelites came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their exodus from the land of Egypt. 2 The entire company of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger!”
How quickly after our own salvation do we also come to the wilderness of sin and feel emotionally and spiritually hungry? Frightened by our surroundings. There God provided them with manna and water. We also need manna. Every morning to gather from His word all that we need for the day. And we need the Holy Spirit, our water.
Furthermore
How often do we fail to counsel a new babe in Christ of the need to feed on the word, lest they fall to the desert experiences?
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 2 Peter 2:(NASB1995)[1]
They had tasted of His kindness, but now must actively put aside all slander to long for the pure milk of His word. This too we must encourage new believers in their journey. Advising them to seek His word and engage with the Holy Spirit through prayer.
More Trials to Face
Then there was no water. The people all bitterly complained; but God provided. Next Amalek came with his army to battle against the people. Once more God prevailed as long as He was given the honor, proving God is our Banner and fights every war for us, as long as we lift our hands up to Him. Another important lesson for every believer is to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) every morning to face the battles of life against the enemy who can come at any moment.
Moses’ Father in law did come and recommend Moses divide up the people and set leaders over the groups so that all was better organized. Lesson for us? We cannot do it all alone. We need leaders and we need good counsel to help us along the way.
Meeting With God in the Desert Experiences
They reach Mt Sinai by the third month.
3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” Exodus 19 (NASB1995)
Much like we, during those mountaintop experiences when we really feel His presence, the Israelite people responded.
8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” Exodus 19 (NASB)
How often do we say the same thing, only to quickly forget.
God instructs Moses to prepare the people to hear from God. They are to wash their clothes and prepare their hearts. Furthermore they are told that they must not go up the mountain nor touch its borders; because if they did they would die. They were to come near and to listen.
God Is Bigger Than They Ever Imagined
16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon 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 whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Exodus 19 (NASB1995)
Then God proclaimed the TEN Commandments
- You shall have no other gods.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord.
4. Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not lie.
10. You shall not covet.
And with-it God promised to protect, provide and bring them into the promised land. This God Spoke clearly for all the people to hear.
3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Exodus 24 (NASB1995)
The Covenant Fully Accepted
he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8 So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24: (NASB1995)
God Presents a Plan of His Glory Dwelling With the People
So, Moses went back up into the mountain with God. There God was going to write all the rest of the books in his own hands.
15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. 18 Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24(NASB1995)
How Quickly People Forget in the Desert Experiences
It did not take long for them to forget their covenant with God. While God is detailing the glorious tabernacle in which He planned to dwell with the people, they were breaking Commandments 1-3 at the same moment. They proceeded to break the rest in their lude ceremony to the Golden Calf. This after they clearly heard God speak and saw His Power thundering over the mountain.
Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him….3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.””
But what Lord did they want to worship? They had forsaken God and His Covenant by all that they had done. Yet, Moses intercedes in prayer on their behalf. We must learn both to not turn away from God during the moments we think He is silent. Also, we must be willing to stand in the gap through intercessory prayer while others are struggling.
So, back to the first question?
Is it possible to ever reach a point where we can be Joyfully Trusting God During the Desert Experiences of Life? Well at this point in their desert experiences, the Israelites haven’t learned the key yet. However, the key to joyfully trusting God during the desert experiences is knowing the first principle of faith. Faith is knowing God IS and that He is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6.
7 Keys to Joyfully Trusting God During the Desert Experiences
- Remember God IS Sovereign
- Never Forget all that He has done for You
- Do not lose sight of Calvary
- Seek His word and time alone with Him each day
- Put on the Whole Armor of God
- Do Not Try to Do it Alone
- Remember He loves you so much He sent His son to die for you and He has not given up on you. He is faithful.
Next week we will continue our journey through the desert experiences.
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
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
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.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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[1] New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.