Lessons in the Wilderness

Exodus 15 opens with a description of a beautiful worship service taking place at the edge of the Red Sea. YHWH had just delivered the Hebrew people from Pharaoh’s army and the people are filled with faith and trust. However, the narrative takes a disappointing turn in verse 22. As the people finish their time of worship by the Red Sea, they head out into the desert. Just three days into their wilderness journey the Israelites need water. When they finally find a source of water, it is bitter and unsafe to drink. Almost immediately, the song of the Israelites turns into grumbling against Moses and YHWH. 

There is a deep irony here. The same men and women who walked through the water by the power of God, no longer have the faith necessary to trust the LORD to provide water for them to drink. Just 72 hours into the wilderness and Israel’s faith is revealed as fleeting. And if we’re being honest, we have to admit that sounds a lot like us! Because, just like the Israelites, even after our redemption comes, God still leads us into the wilderness. Even though we have passed through judgment and into the salvation we have in Christ, we have not yet reached the Promised Land. 

The wilderness is where God teaches us about ourselves. It’s where He teaches us about our expectations and our unbelief. As we journey through the wilderness God teaches us to trust in the finished work of Christ, and not our own efforts. When we give up control and trust the LORD’s leading we find the rest we so desperately need for our weary souls!