The Wilderness Way

Deuteronomy 8:2

Our next neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Stuckless, did not like my two brothers and me walking across their front yard. This was a shortcut for us to get to Jill’s house. Mr. Stuckless would talk to our father, and then Dad would discuss this habit with us at the dinner table. We were told to use the sidewalk instead of walking across the neighbor’s yard. As kids, we wanted to have quick and direct access to our friend’s house, but our father wanted us to learn to respect our neighbors and their property. 

In the pages of Scripture, we see the Lord leading His people on the longer path. God is not in a hurry, and He rarely takes a shortcut. Israel sojourned in Egypt for 430 years … to the day (see Exodus 12:40-41). When Israel departed from Egypt, He led them on the wilderness way. 

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. 

- Exodus 13:17-18 

The Lord is in the business of transforming hearts. Although this may be difficult to comprehend, a loving God will allow us to face hardships, struggles, and trials. All because of His love for us and His sincere desire for us to love Him. The Lord’s chief passion for you and me is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey His commands. 

- Deuteronomy 8:2 (NLT) 

The Lord’s wilderness way is not a waste of time. Certainly, it will involve extra steps and the use of energy (perhaps physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). Shortcuts are not in God’s leadership manual. Rather, God wants to reveal the true affections of our hearts. 

God will accomplish His purpose (His perfect will) through suffering, trials, heartache, and pain in each of our lives. He works to strengthen, guide, and grow the faith of His chosen ones. 

But we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

- Romans 5:3-5

Head to Heart   

Are you walking in a time of wilderness? Is the journey long and tiring? Do you wonder if God has forgotten you? The Lord has promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” You are not alone. He wants to reveal the true affections of your heart. 

Look to God with great expectancy for the work He wants to do in your heart and life. Then, write down your specific wilderness details on paper, including the date, and keep it in your Bible. It will be exciting to see how God works in your life on the wilderness way. 

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