Walking in the Wilderness

Beloved Kinney,

I wonder how much you’ve thought about the theme of “wilderness” in Scripture.
Surprisingly, it’s a prominent theme. Of course, we know that Israel wandered in the
wilderness for 40 years on their way to the promised land. But there are also many
other “wilderness” instances in Scripture. Hagar was driven into the wilderness on a few
occasions. David found himself in the wilderness when he was fleeing from Saul. Elijah
was in the wilderness when he ran from King Ahab. And of course, Jesus was driven to
the wilderness for 40 days.

I’m working through a book called Your Wilderness is Not a Waste by Dustin Crowe. I
commend it to you! He argues that “On a human level, the wilderness is a place of
emptiness, but when God shows up, He turns it into a place of bounty.” (pg. 12) He
says, “The wilderness is a place where God teaches us who He is and transforms our
faith.” (pg. 16) Therefore, “Your wilderness is not a waste.” (pg. 18)
All of life is a wilderness. We, like the people of Israel of old, are journeying towards the
promised land. We haven’t arrived yet. We’re not at our final destination. Our home is
the New Jerusalem, the new creation, heaven. This world is not our home. It’s our
wilderness.

However, at various times in our lives, we feel the heat and disorder and trouble of our
journey through the wilderness to the promised land more acutely than other times. So I
ask, what’s your wilderness right now? What intense trouble are you facing? What heat
are you experiencing?

Look to Christ who walked through the wilderness without grumbling, without sin, with
full trust in his Father. Look to him how obey where Israel, where we, could not. Keep
looking to him in your wilderness and he will, but the power of his Spirit, bring you home
to the promised land.

Love,
Pastor Josh