When You Feel You Are in a Spiritual DesertSample

When You Feel You're in the Desert

In Egypt, Moses realised something of God's calling on his life: to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land. But Moses wanted to do it himself. He was able to kill one Egyptian, and after that, he had to flee. God allowed Moses to escape into the wilderness, discouraged, confused, tending sheep. In Proverbs 3:5-7 we read: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Moses' realisation that God called him was correct, but God had to discipline and teach him first. The wisdom of Egypt was useless to what God had in mind. There, he stripped him of all his titles, positions, and knowledge. In the desert, titles, positions, and knowledge are worthless. For in the desert, no one is left to impress or intimidate.

Even though Moses was the right person, he wasn't ready for the job—not until he learned to live in true fellowship and unity with God.

We may have a clear vision of what God wants to do and want, but the moment we put our hand to the plough, we can sometimes end up in the wilderness for "forty years." When that happens, God seems to have forgotten about the whole vision, and then it's easy to think that God has forgotten us, too. At such times, we can fall into complete despair. It is here that we stand before God in fear and trembling and say: "Who am I that You want to send and use me? I can't do the job." The wilderness teaches us that we cannot do God's work in our own strength. Note 2 Corinthians 4:7 – Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. In the wilderness, God wants to teach us where the power for spiritual work must come from.