After the Hebrew people left their life of oppressive enslavement to the Egyptians, they found themselves wandering in the wilderness. One can't wander in the wilderness without learning and understanding more of what it means to follow God. When the Hebrew people were enslaved, they knew what to expect, and therefore, probably believed their own strength and sheer will saw them through. However, in the wilderness they were faced with the unexpected and the unknown on a daily basis. At times, they trusted and were faithful in their wandering which brought peace that transcended in the midst of an unknown future. In the Exodus store we read however, that there were more times of mumbles and grumbles (even talk about turning around and going back to what was known being in bondage and slavery) than stories of blind faith. It was words of complaint but underneath the words was a real panic and fear.
It’s really easy to read stories of our ancestors of faith and think we would have reacted differently. Reflect back though, how many times have we found ourselves in our modern-day wilderness – a place of unfamiliarity, non-comfort, inconvenience, and uncertainty. Was our first reaction praise to God for being in this liminal space? It isn’t likely. Thankfully, God can handle the questions, the frustration, and lament.
Overtime, the Hebrew people had to learn to trust God – EACH DAY. God promised to be present and guide them along the journey through the wilderness. This promise means that the Hebrew people had to sometimes remain where they were, perhaps for longer than they would have liked but they were also required to remain flexible and be willing to move at any time as called. The same is true for us today. To live by faith, even in the wilderness, means a commitment to always look to God.
Many see and think about the wilderness as only negative. However, I have come to find beauty in the wilderness – a space and place of the unknown. The wilderness is an invitation to set out to uncover or rediscover a whole world that lies around us. We can also discover that the Divine uses the outer landscape we find ourselves in to shape and mold our inner landscape. It can be a time of transformation if we open ourselves up to it, but no matter what, even after we have moved on we will forever be marked by our time in the wilderness.
As we enter this season of Lent, may we embrace the thresholds we cross, be emboldened to break down borders and barriers, and be where our feet are wandering in the wilderness. We can do this all bravely knowing that God encourages this openness and exploration because it is an invitation to be present with and depend on God.
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