deu08-02
4 March 2007
“UNDERSTANDING YOUR WILDERNESS(ES)”
Deuteronomy 8:1-10
This sermon is for people who may be right now or who have ever been in a wilderness.
Let me begin by making note of the title of this sermon. I want to talk with you today about dealing with your wilderness for someone may be right there, right now. But I add the “es” to create the plural form of the noun, wilderness to recognize that not one of us should ever think that once we are through a wilderness period, we will never have another wilderness experience. You may be headed toward a new wilderness, even after getting out of the present one.
But this sermon is to help you understand that wilderness. Perhaps there are some observations, learnings we can glean from our text for today that will help us in any wilderness, anytime.
Here are some things you should know, reflect on:
Find out what kind of wilderness you are in.
Hebrew word is “Midbah” meaning desolate, deserted. “the place beyond” i.e. beyond the limits of civilization. It is disorderly. Wild beast and savage wandering, pilfering tribes. In the wilderness, we are disoriented, bewildered.
A closer read of the Hebrew Scriptures will reveal that there are many types of wildernesses
1. Jeshimon, a desert waste (Deut. 32:10; Ps. 68:7).
2. ‘Arabah, the name given to the valley from the Dead Sea to the eastern branch of the Red Sea. In Deut. 1:1; 2:8, it is rendered “plain” (R.V., “Arabah”).
3. Tziyyah, a “dry place” (Ps. 78:17; 105:41).
4. Tohu, a “desolate” place, a place “waste” or “unoccupied” (Deut. 32:10; Job 12:24; comp. Gen. 1:2, “without form”).[1]
5. Wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16.1) murmuring
God does provide in austere times.
Verse 2 gives us some keen insight.
God has us in the wilderness to humble us.
How are we humbled? First by not having any food. Then by feeding us when we have no food. Let me break that down. No food. Humble. And once we are humbled, God provides new experiences and opportunities. Sometimes the wilderness gives us lessons we would otherwise miss out on completely.
Clothes did not wear out, feet did not swell.
Took care of you. Not God will take care of you. God did, has already taken care of you!
James B Adams was the pastor of Concord during the Great Depression of 1929. The soup lines. Some of the members of Concord were too proud to stand in the lines they would rather stay home hungry. James Adams would stand in the bread line in the day and then after nightfall would carry their food to them quietly. God provides.
Did feed you but that was not enough.
Your physical sustenance is important but if you do not feed your soul, you will still die of starvation. Food in front of you and you cannot eat? Nothing wrong with the food, something is wrong with me.
There is some growth and life only sustained by austere times.
Once in Arizona, Drove through a cactus forest into the Desert museum and zoo. Creatures and vegetation that only could live in this difficult environment. Adapted to the austere, waterless climate.
Some of our gifts will only be discovered, sharpened and strengthened by wilderness experiences.
Wilderness= an uncultivated place.
Here is the crux. One must ask these important questions:
Can it be cultivated? Stay
Is it inhabitable? Move
CONCLUSION:
In order to finish this sermon, we have to look very closely at the text. Take out your bibles and see what God is offering us today.
Now let’s look textually at this wilderness experience. This experience in the wilderness is between the promise of verse 1 and it’s yet realized fulfillment and fruition in verse 7. WE could all be blessed if we had this perspective on the wilderness: It is precisely on the way, along the journey (Not the end of the road. Not a wall but a passageway) It is simply a place through which we must travail before the promise is fulfilled.
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[1]Easton, M. (1996, c1897). Easton's Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
