Navigating the Wilderness

Lost

There are a lot of resources we have today in effort not to get lost. I remember as a kid riding with my mother and we would get lost. Once she got tired of driving in circles, we would pull up as a gas station. As a 12 year old, I would go into the gas station and ask for instructions. With a pen and a piece of paper I would write down the directions and give them to my mother as we looked for our destination. Sometimes the people gave faulty directions and we ended up more lost than we were to begin with. Nonetheless, we were at the mercy of depending on the instructions of those giving the directions.

Life presents a number of wilderness phases. It’s challenging because it’s no longer bondage but it’s not a place of rest either. Nonetheless the blessing is it’s still a place of provision from God. As long as God is providing it’s monumental to realize that it’s still a place of blessing. There’s just a journey that one must go through in effort to appreciate and get to the promise land. The peculiar part about this is the nature in which it takes place. Moses returns from the mountain, in conversation with God to provide instruction to the people. Leadership is challenging within the confines of church, and within the confines of family. Nonetheless, no matter the setting no one can lead without constant conversation with God. The lesson provided in this regard boils down to the manner of trust and obedience.

To navigate the wilderness moments in life we must:

Know where we are going

Understand the standard required for getting there.

What is our responsibility along the way.

The wilderness of life is not an excuse to dismiss the requirements of God! I know in times of challenge we begin to try to make excuses, but what we must understand is this is the time of life where we need to do everything we can to lock in!

Wilderness is Not An Excuse

Wilderness is not an excuse to neglect the direction of God. Even though you are not where you are destined to be, God still has a requirement for his children. If nothing else, the wilderness is preparation for the promise land. If I can’t be obedient in times where faith is the only certain thing in my life, what makes me think God is going to be okay with me experiencing the promised land.

We have a “when I get here” outlook.

When I get ______ I’ll do better for God.

Where do we get off giving God conditions? He has the authority, He sets the standard. What we do not realize is when we trust in Him, what we desire comes to fruition.

It’s quite peculiar that this is word from God through Moses is almost identical to what we experience in a worship service. It was a collective opportunity to share a word from God.

Deuteronomy 5:1 “And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.”

You belong to God no matter where life takes you! Even in the wilderness, God had a standard for His children. Moses made this abundantly clear, “now this is the commandment and these are the statues and judgements which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess.

Obedience is two fold, it’s what delivers you from bondage and it’s also what keeps you from going back. Our lives work in a similar way. The destination is coming, and I know it gets challenging when you’ve been in the wilderness longer than you desire but thank God for a right now word.

Moses informed them of the God of the moment. Deuteronomy 5:2–3 “The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.”

This is not about the generation before us, this is about the right now. How will we get to the place destined for for us to reach! The promise has already been made! It’s more than obedience its God’s instruction that prolongs our life. Verse 2 of our text states, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

The example setting in our conduct isn’t always for the right now but it’s so that the next generation has the seeds planted that will sprout and continue this effort of faith. The seeds we plant right now church family are for the generations to come. How we treat each other, how share the gospel with the community, how we serve, how we stand in the gap for the marginalized, is all going to be reflected by the next generation.

The comfort and encouragement is the fact that we have a promise from God, “as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—a land flowing with milk and honey”.

What’s Our Responsibility Along the Way

The New King James Version Chapter 6

3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

This is a right now message with generational impact. Living a Godly life prolongs the years of your children. We have an impact in the decisions that our children make. Sure we won’t control everything but they cannot say they did not have an example of love and guidance.

It’s a no days off mentality. At every turn it’s an opportunity to share with them something of importance! They should always be reminded. We need 100 percent commitment to the will and way of the Lord.

Luke 10:27 “So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ””

We have a duty regardless of where we are in life. Wilderness of promise land.

The New King James Version Chapter 6

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Every Leader Isn’t Meant for the Promise Land

Moses’ role was for liberation and wilderness. Some leaders are meant for the wilderness. Now it was of the own accord and disobedience that Moses didn’t experience the promise land but he was the man for the job during those moments of wilderness.

Some leaders are meant for those wilderness moments. We need some people to have a word that people can lean on during times of uncertainty. There is no break in teaching the next generation! It’s a constant reminder. Every step of the way is a lesson.

Navigating the Wilderness of the World with Jesus

Life has a number of time where we find ourselves liberated from our sin but trying to find the promise land in our journey! Understand that salvation begins with being liberated from the bondage of sin through Jesus but navigating the wilderness of life through loving God with all your heart, soul and strength! It’s going to take some strength to navigate the unknown moments of life. Look for strength in the fact that Jesus died so that we could make our way through the wilderness of life and reach the eternal land of milk and honey!

Romans 6:6–7 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.”