20 February | Youth
«And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.» Deuteronomy 8:2
In the Bible, desert is a place of meeting, testing and preparation for a special work. In this place where scarcity prevails, there are more uncertainties than guarantees. It is a school without walls that teaches the art of addiction. Several biblical characters went through this pit stop of faith. Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Paul and Jesus Himself discovered the powerful lessons of deprivation firsthand.
Have you ever been to a desert? If the answer is “yes,” you will agree with me that this is one of the most challenging places. The sun is punishing during the day, the cold is biting at night, the wind blows sand into your eyes, your feet fill with blisters, there is a lack of water and food, you have a feeling of boredom and loneliness, not to mention the feeling that you are walking in circles. This is certainly not an interesting place to live!
Now think about the reality of the people of Israel –about two million people traveling in the desert for over 40 years. It really was not an easy task for Moses to lead all that people! Imagine: children and elderly people tired from the walk, sick people groaning in pain, pregnant women looking for rest and, of course, many “complainers” wanting to return to Egypt. The desert was definitely a test for Moses.
After the time of pilgrimage, when the remnants of Israel arrived at the gates of Canaan, God explained the reason He led His children into the desert: “To humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart” (Deut 8:2). Through difficulties, God wanted to teach them to trust Him completely. As a farmer separates the grain from the chaff, God purified the character of His children.
Just as it happened with the people of Israel, God often leads us to the “desert.” According to Ellen White, “the trials of life are God's workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character.” (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings, p. 10). If you are in a desert today, remember that Christ is leading your journey. In the end, everything will work out.