Traveling Through The Wilderness
Tonight as I was reading through the 13th chapter of Exodus, something stood out to me very profoundly. So much so, that I had to stop and blog it. So, without any further delay, let’s jump right in.
A little of the backstory:
In the book of Exodus, we see the story of Moses and Aaron leading the tribes of Israel out of Egypt where they had been in bondage for 400 years, recorded in the Torah and the Christian Bible. Before they ever ended up in captivity in Egypt, however, GOD spoke to Abraham, recorded in Genesis 15:13-14 (NKJV) and said,
“Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”
As history records, Joseph, who was Abraham’s great-grandson, was sold into slavery by his brothers, was sent to Egypt as a prisoner, but ultimately gained favor over the course of many years. He ended up as second in command over all of Egypt under Pharaoh because GOD was with him. When GOD established Joseph there to prepare Egypt for a coming famine, Joseph’s family came from Canaan for food, not knowing what had happened to their brother, and through the course of the story, were reunited with Joseph in a way that only GOD could have dreamed up. Joseph’s brothers, their children and his father ultimately moved to Egypt, to an area called Goshen, which was the best of the land, where they prospered and multiplied greatly.
The Bible says, long after Joseph had died, when another Pharaoh that did not know Joseph was in power, the children of Israel (Jacob) had multiplied so much that they became considered a threat in the eyes of the Egyptians and the Egyptians enslaved them. According to the Biblical timeline, one generation was about 100 years, so this would likely have been somewhere around the 4th generation from Joseph.
The Pharaoh of that generation commanded that all the first born sons of the Israelites should be killed. It was during that time that Moses was born, cast into a river in a basket and Pharaoh’s daughter found him and raised him. Fast forward a few more years, and now Moses has had an encounter with GOD, out in the wilderness, and is told to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Through the course of great signs and wonders worked by GOD, through Moses and Aaron, his brother, the children of Israel were released and they set off on a journey into the wilderness with the riches of Egypt in their possession.
A GOD of His Word:
Now, arriving into Chapter 13, verses 17 and 18 (KJV)… this is what really stood out to me as I read back through this story:
“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that GOD led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for GOD said, ‘Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But GOD led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.'”
Continuing on, verse 21-22 says, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light: to go by day and by night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”
I don’t really know how many times I’ve read and heard this story and still somehow missed this part. So many times, we read the story or hear it and we’re told how the children of Israel murmured in the wilderness after a time and GOD became angry with them and made them to walk in circles for 40 years until finally, the older generation all died off and the younger generation was allowed to enter into the promised land. There has always been this sort of disconnect with me with this story, like, “There has to be more to this! Why was GOD that angry with them?!”
I didn’t understand, that is, until I read this tonight. Reading Exodus 13:17-18, it was very clear to me that GOD put such consideration into how to lead them through the wilderness so they would not run up on the Philistines and faint on the way because of war, when they were already so oppressed, that He planned a very specific and more gentle route for them to reach their destination. In verses 21-22, we see that He took great care to provide a cloud during the day and a fire at night to lead and protect them, that throughout the journey He never took from them. I believe this is why when the children of Israel got into the wilderness and began to murmur and complain against GOD saying, “He’s brought us out of Egypt to kill us” that GOD became angry and you can see why so much more clearly. He led them, He fed them, He provided water for them, He made sure their clothes and shoes never rotted along the way. Most of all, GOD had already given them a promise through Abraham in the very beginning, telling him this time would come and that He would deliver them. In spite of that promise and the great care and mercy He had shown them, they threw their fists up against Him and spoke evil toward Him. They began worshipping a golden calf out in the wilderness rather than Him. No wonder He was so angry. They were full of unbelief, resentment and rebellion. How often do we do that same thing to Him today?
In the last few weeks as I’ve been reading through Genesis and now into Exodus, there is such a clear theme running of GOD’s faithfulness to man-kind, from the very beginning of time, in spite of our ignorance, rebellion and flat out stupidity. It seems like each time, the evidence of His heart toward us becomes so evident when we find ourselves in the wilderness place. We may not recognize it at first, but it’s so there.
Some of you might read this and think, “Well, yeah, but GOD let them die in the wilderness so He did forsake them.” For those, I want to circle back around to Moses and what ultimately happened with him. The Bible records that although GOD selected Moses to lead the children of Israel into the promised land, ultimately, He did not allow Moses to enter in because he sinned. GOD only allowed him to see it with his eyes. Moses died and it says GOD buried him in Moab and nobody knows to this day where. But was that the end? Although He did not enter into the promise land in his earthly life, the Bible says that he and Elijah were seen speaking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. This is what Matthew 17:1-4; Mark 9:2-13 and Luke 9:28-36 (KJV) records:
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with Him.”
Where were they? It is widely believed that they were on Mount Tabor which is in Israel. If that is true, Moses did enter the promised land, but it was only after he stepped into eternity and that means GOD kept His promise. I believe death doesn’t mean the promise has been abandoned or broken, it’s just the outline of that promise may change. I also understand that may be a concept hard for some to believe.
For a generation alive in 2023:
Just like He was with the children of Israel then, He is ever-present with us today. His promise to us has never changed.
In Genesis 28:15 (ESV), GOD says, “‘Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.'”
In Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV), it says, “‘It is the LORD Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'”
Joshua 1:9 (ESV) says, ‘”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.'”
In Isaiah 41:10 (ESV), GOD said, “‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your GOD; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'”
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) says, ‘”Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
We see Jesus repeating the same promise in Matthew 28:20 (ASV), just before He ascended into Heaven. He gave His disciples their commission and He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Whether we are currently on the mountain top of life or find ourselves on a journey through the wilderness, He is still with us! He has never left us. He has certainly not forsaken us. While it may be hard to see in the moment, our goal should be to hold on to that promise, to hold on to His Word and remind ourselves of it frequently, until the dust settles and we can see clearly again.
He is faithful.
