Wilderness Experience of Israelites in the Bible – Lessons to learn
Wilderness Experience in the Bible: Israelites forgot the past miracles
God did great miracles in Egypt, for the sake of the children of Israel. He plagued the Egyptians, let the Egyptian firstborn children die and made the army of Pharaoh sink in the red sea, just for the sake of his beloved Israelites. But these people, who cried out to God because of slavery, soon forgot all that the Lord God did for them.
Do you remember the times that God answered your prayers and rescued you from troubles?
Exodus 14:
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared, and the Egyptians fled against it, and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28And the waters returned and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.
Wilderness Experience in the Bible: Israelites were unthankful
The people of Israel lusted after lesser things. They were not thankful for all the miracles that God did for them. They did not thank God for the manna, their shoes and dresses that were not worn out, their promised destiny etc. Their lust for meat was so great that they dared to complain against God. Manna was not enough for them. To them, slavery forever felt somehow better than a wilderness journey that would lead to a beautiful destination. This indeed displeased God.
Are we thankful for all that God has given us?
1 Thessalonians 5:18-In everything, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Philippians 4:11-12-Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
Wilderness Experience in the Bible: Israelites murmured and complained
Complaining and murmuring displease God. The Israelites complained and murmured, which delayed their destination. On the contrary, Joseph who met injustice after injustice never complained nor dared to disobey God in any circumstance. Daniel did not complain even in the lion’s den. The 3 friends of Daniel did not murmur even when they were thrown into the furnace.
Exodus 16:8-And Moses said, [This shall be] when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what [are] we? your murmurings [are] not against us but against the LORD.
Numbers 11:1-4-And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it], and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp.
1 Corinthians 10:10-Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1 Peter 4:9-Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Philippians 2:14-Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
James 5:9-Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Psalms 106:25-But murmured in their tents, [and] hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
Wilderness Experience in the Bible: Disobedience delays the destiny
We have a choice. We can choose to honour God by obedience or lose our eternal rewards, blessings and peace by rebelling against God and grieving the Holy Spirit.
We have a greater destination that cannot be compared to anything in this world. So, keep your focus on things above and stop clinging to sins and other lesser things.
Joshua 5:6
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
This Post: Wilderness Experience in the Bible
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