In the Wilderness
The Israelites wandered around in the desert for 40 years. It’s hard to remain faithful and not complain and not grumble when you don’t know where you are, where you are going, when you’ll get there or even if you’ll get there. I can understand them. It seems like this long painful process of trudging around aimlessly, wondering and hoping for something better. Life seems clueless, the purpose of your life a mystery, the road of your life a winding maze through fog. It’s hard to be faithful. It’s hard to do it with joy. If only we could get to the promise land. If only we could see the promise land.
Yet God views their time in the desert as the honeymoon. “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness,” (Jer 2:2). When Israel rebels, he wants to bring them back to that stage. “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” (Hosea 2:14) That time of hardship and difficultly were the best years to God. It’s when they were dependent on God, trusting his leading, and waiting on him for nourishment.
Are these years the best to God? Not knowing my calling. Not knowing where I should go or what I should do. Am I walking in the desert crying for water and meat or are my eyes fixed on the pillar of cloud and fire, hungry for my mourning manna?
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…