Verse: “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” Deu 8:2

Background: The Lord used Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, The Lord brought them out with a lot of miracles and with His powerful hand. Pharaoh, his army, and even the Red Sea could not stop them. The reason to bring them out was to lead them to the Promised Land. And the actual journey from Egypt to Canaan would only take 11 days through the wilderness.

Outcome: We know it took 40 years and they got stuck in the wilderness; not only that, other than 2 people (Caleb and Joshua) all men above 20 years who started from Egypt perished in the wilderness. But Lord under Joshua got the next generation into the Promised Land.

Reason for Wilderness: The path through wilderness was chosen by the Lord, as that was the learning needed for them to humble, transform, and get Egypt out of their life before they start living in Canaan, The path to righteousness is many times through way of pain, but many perished in the school of wilderness, why?

But Why they perished: The word says due to their unbelief they could not enter the Promised Land. Although they came out of Egypt, it took 40 years for the lifestyle of Egypt to come out of them. In the same way, the Lord brought us out of sin and saved us to live a victorious life. But are we also continuing in old ways and going in circles?

Lesson: Wilderness is not the reason why we were called out. How long because of our old ways, will we continue in the wilderness of struggle? The salvation that we receive through grace should lead to change; in the way we live. It is not ok to live in sin, fear of God is to hate sin.

 Final thought:  A quote from D L Moody “We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow”