Surviving the Wilderness

In the beginning of May, my Pastor started a series on "Surviving the Wilderness".  Most everyone can related to lessons on survival and of times in the wilderness.   I know that when the series began, I felt like I was in the wilderness and would welcome survival tips.

• The first lesson was on "Trust & Obey", which is the main message of the Book of Numbers which paints the pictures of EGYPT (slavery), EXODUS (redemption), CANAAN (spiritual promise and inheritance), and WILDERNESS (disobedience).  Hebrews 3:7-19 tells us that the wilderness experience was a sad story of people who should've trusted God but instead disobeyed.  Their journey, which should've only taken about 11 days, took 40 years because of their disobedience.  Yet, this is also a story of hope, for even when we are in the wilderness, God is there with us.
• The next lesson was on "Following God's Lead" that He may provide guidance in unfamiliar terrain, which applies to our lives as well.   The OT is old concealed, and the NT is old revealed.  God guided through the pillar of cloud by day (protection against the sun) and fire by night (light in darkeness).  In the NT, when Jesus ascends, the "cloud hid Him"; and when the Holy Spirit comes, He is manifested as fire.  The cloud principles we can follow are:  surrender direction to God, seek guidance thru prayer, rely on Scripture, and expect step-by-step guidance even if we don't see the whole picture.
• "Silver Trumpets" were used as signals in the wilderness, and are a picture of the Word of God.  His Word is like precious silver, calling us to attention and obedience and alerting us to danger.
• In the wilderness, there is "Danger of Dissatisfaction - grumbling & complaining".   Complaining can be a sign of stubborn unbelief, just as the Israelites complained about Manna (which means, "what is it?") and even their blessing when quail was provided, and Moses about his burdens.  Instead, we should "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain."  (Phil 2:14-6).  

23-Jun:  There was "Mutiny in the Camp" when  Miriam and Aaron started a rebellion through their complaints against Moses from the jealousy and hidden evil in their heart  (Numbers 12:1-16).   It is said that often those who complain about the way the ball bounces and is headed are usually the ones who dropped it.  Moses didn't try to defend himself, but let the Lord do it; and he did not quit, because leadership is a CALLING, not a "job".  So, Miriam was afflicted with leprosy, Aaron confessed, and there was healing when Moses interceded in prayer, showing his mercy.  Are we builders or wreckers?

30-Jun:  The Israelites failed their test of faith when they turned away from the Promised Land at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13:1-33).  Practically at the door to the promise, they simply had to claim it by faith; yet they relied on sight and listened to the majority report of the spies.

7-Jul:  Faith is at the core and foundation of how we are called to live.  Faith looks ahead with courage, but unbelief looks behind.  And, in heaven, our faith becomes sight.  But, we cannot have Faith without a TEST; and our faith is only as good as what it is founded upon.  In contrast, refusing to see the truth they have been witness to, the Israelites illustrated their unbelief through blaming and complaining in Numbers 14.  Yet Moses showed his humility and character by pleading and praying on behalf of His People, aligning with what he knows to be the Promises of God.   While God forgave, there were still consequences.
Also, just from something that was said during service, it occurred to me that there is a parallel between our use of spirituals gifts given to us and living according to our born-again nature.

14-Jul:  By Numbers 17, the Israelites still have not understood that Moses and Aaron where God's anointed leaders, and that rising up against them was really defiance against God.   So, they persisted in their grumbling, and God demonstrated to the entire nation through Aaron's dead stick that blossomed that Moses and Aaron where His chosen leaders who they were not to grumble against.  The blossoming dead stick was also a lasting sign of life pointing to the resurrection.  This along with the other items in the Ark of the Covenant represented Jesus as the bread of life (manna) and the New Covenant (contrasting the tablets of the Law).  On Calvary, "One man died IN sin, one man died TO sin, and on Man died FOR sin."

4-Aug:  In Numbers 20, during a difficult time, after the death of Miriam and the Israelites continued to grumble, Moses would fall facedown before the Lord.  God answered his prayers; but, Moses in angry response to the people struck the rock rather than speak to it for water.  As a result, God said, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”  This punishment was so harsh b/c (from 1 Corinth 10:1-6) the Rock represented Christ from which Living Water flows.

11-Aug:  In Numbers 21, the story of the snake on the pole lifted up in the wilderness was a picture of God's plan of salvation as stated in John 3:14-17

25-Aug:  From the story of Balaam and Balak in Numbers 22-24, we are to beware of misrepresentations of God, remember that God is not limited in the way He can speak to anyone at anytime, and not to fear those who might threaten us when God has promised to bless

1-Sep:  Looking at the lure of the false gods in Numbers 25, we are reminded of the need to commit ahead of time to do the right thing, not to underestimate the power of temptation, and to remember the costly consequences of sin.  "Morality is the line of demarcation btwn man acting as a disgusting animal or man becoming the noblest creature of all God's creation.  The lack of morality based on the character of God is the path to uncivilized moral mayhem."

8-Sep:  Numbers 35 is where God instituted Cities of Refuge, which are a picture of Christ.  We can run to Him, and find "refuge" from our sin.