Wilderness Exit

Recap Wilderness Experience

Moses, after spending 40 years in the Palace, God prepares him by sending him into the wilderness for training. He learned 3 things that he later revealed to the nation of Isreal.

1. God sends wilderness experience for humility

2. Secondly, to prove or test our heats and revel what’s covered up, and may not be so obvious even to ourselves

3. Tertiary, to prove if we would keep His commands, not only in the good times, but during times of tribulations

Wilderness Journey

A Wilderness experience is often linked to a mountain top experience; that is the low point that follows an achievement or success.

Once Israel is delivered from their enslavers, God sends them to the Wilderness to teach them Who they were created to be. They endure scary situations, and challenge their understanding. Deuteronomy 1:2 “It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.” Kadesh-barnea was the encampment location for Israel, while Moses sent the 12 spies to validate what God spoke of the promise land.

The route Israel took can be linked literally and allegorically (containing a moral or hidden meaning, or ideas as symbols for deeper or layered meaning to our own experience in Christianity. Egypt was in bondage, like we are in bondage of sin. The Red sea crossing was liken to our Baptism, and on the mountain of Horeb they were taught and given God’s commands (making a covenant) that reflected just how far we are from God, and how much we need Him in all we do. Finally they arrive at the Jordan, with passage being liken to crossing the vail of death and entering the promised land or for the Celestial Kingdom to live as new creations.

Lack of Faith

Two incidence during Israel’s wilderness experience stand out for why it took 40 years for an 11 day journey.

Exodus 19:11 “and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” To prepare for this event Israel went through a 3 day sanctification; Exodus 19:17–20 “Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.”

Exodus 20:18–19 “Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”

God Revealed

The nation of Israel had witnessed the plagues in Egypt, including the slaying of the firstborn, and had been saved from them all

They witnessed the armies of Pharaoh ready to crush them and yet was delivered by God

After crossing the Red Sea they had no food and God sent quail and manna

They had no water and God delivered water from a rock

They were delivered from the hands of the Amalekites

They witnessed a guiding cloud of fire by night and dark cloud by day

And yet, with all they had witness, there remained an unbelief that the power of God could protect His people from the the people was not powerful enough to bring them into His consuming presence safely.

Holy place of the desert of wandering kadesh means Holy Barnea means the desert of the wandering