Wilderness Wanderings?

Wilderness Wanderings?
 
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Deuteronomy 8.2
 

As we read God’s Word, many passages arrest our attention because of the sweet promises they offer. What could be more soothing than the words of the prophet Isaiah when he wrote: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43.2) That promise is reemphasized in the New Testament in the closing comments of the Epistle to the Hebrews, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13.5)
 
We often go through various trials that test us to the limits; however, we can be assured of God’s presence. And, some verses arrest our attention when they offer sovereign insight into the workings of God as He deals with His people. Have you ever noticed an often-overlooked verse offering a special blessing to the Noahic family as God directs them into the Ark? God did not invite them to “go” into the Ark, but to “come” into the Ark. (Genesis 7.1) God did not place them in an arena of protection where they could ride out the storm – God invited them to join Him inside as they rode out the storm together.
 
Yea, as we traverse this world’s terrain, we can rest assured that “…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23.4) It is such a comforting thought to realize that our God and Savior never leaves us to experience the trials and tribulations alone – He is always with us.
 
Our text verse, Deuteronomy 8.2, adds an often-unrealized wrinkle to our understanding of God’s presence in our lives. Suggested by our Savior in His “model” prayer, Jesus says, “…and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6.13; Luke 11.4) Being led into temptation offers to us some light of understanding as we accept the fact that God “led” the Israelites into and through their wilderness experiences – through the valley of the shadow of death. For forty years the Shekinah Glory of God could be seen enshrouding the sacred tent settling in some places and moving to various spots as God led His people in paths of discipline, correction and maturation.
 
To suggest that Israel wandered aimlessly through the wilderness is to miss the mark. And, to suggest that we, as followers of Christ, wander from trial to trial and tribulation to tribulation haphazardly dismisses the fact that our Savior is ever with us – ordering our steps as He brings us to dependency upon Him – to humble us but not to humiliate. Furthermore, to prove us but not to discourage.
 
I am reminded of a sweet hymn we sang in my childhood church: “Jesus led me all the way, led me step by step each day; I will tell the saints and angels as I lay my burden down Jesus led me all the way.”
 
Regardless of life’s difficulties, we can be assured that our Sovereign God is leading us and has never lost His grip on our lives. (John 10.29, 30) We do not wander through life – we are led each step of the way.
 
“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119.133