image by Averie Woodard from Unsplash No food. No water. Surrounded by dry, dead sand as far as you could see, and maybe a withered shrub or too. With no sign of resources at hand, you only had the promises of God to sustain you. Exodus 15:22-16:36 --God allowed His people to endure thirst, hunger, and disappointment; to test them. They had already experienced His power to save at the Red Sea. Now they had to trust in His power to provide. In the interval before God answered them, how would they respond while they waited--patiently, with faith, or at the mercy of their fears, anxiety, the insistent voice of unbelief whispering to look at their situation, look at how bleak it all seems, how distant God is, how do we know He'll keep His word? As Moses reminded them, their complaints were far more significant than a one star review of him as a leader. Their complaints revealed a lack of faith in God's ability to provide for them, and doubt on the person of God--His goodness, His faithfulness, and His timing. There have been so many times in my life, but especially recently during this year with all that has happened in my own life as well as to the whole world's, where I have been faced with the unattractive duty of waiting in the wilderness for God. There is no prospect of food--water--on the immediate horizon. I am very much aware of how uncomfortable and restless I am right now, how much I don't want to remain in this situation another minute than I have to. The promises of God--His providence, His sovereignty--are very hard to hear over the growling of my stomach and the dryness of my throat. Where? When? Why not now? Why do You keep me waiting? I demand, chafing helplessly. God did this not out of a sadistic pleasure in seeing His people suffer. Far from it. Relief was at hand, though they didn't see it yet. But the purpose in letting them endure that interval of waiting, where they were tempted to doubt, was for a far greater goal than satisfying their physical hunger and thirst. Deuteronomy 8:2--"to humble and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not, and to realize that man shall not live by bread alone but by the word of God." (Wow. This could have been God's direct answer to me in my own dry spell of waiting.) In our intervals of waiting in the wilderness, when we are sharply, uncomfortably aware of our need and very anxious to have it met, our hearts are revealed with a clarity that would be hard to find in Elim, where--surrounded by 12 wells and 70 palm trees--the Israelites flourished in delicious comfort. When we are waiting in the wilderness, the genuineness of our faith is being tested. Can we glorify God in our trials? 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
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