The Importance of the Wilderness!
Deuteronomy 8
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, December 3.
Do you believe that wilderness times are an important part of your spiritual formation? The key is how we walk through such times and if we walk alone.
Deuteronomy 8:3 was quoted by Jesus at a time of temptation during His forty days in the wilderness. Its original context was God’s gracious warning to the new generation to obey all His commandments in light of how He dealt with the previous generation during their forty years of wilderness wanderings:
“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.”
In the three temptations, found in Matthew 4, Jesus quoted from the second giving of the Law each time. He started with this one, then referenced Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test,” and concluded with verse 13, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only”
God’s motivation in both wilderness experiences was to prepare His people for their greater purpose—to teach them humility and absolute dependence on God. Moses declared God’s love for Israel when He shared this purpose in Deuteronomy 8:16-17,
“In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’”
Seize the moment and walk faithfully with Jesus through your wilderness wanderings remembering that God is using this time to prepare you to do even greater works (John 14:12).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click
HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
