Wilderness Wanderings

Book excerpt: The wilderness is God's original temple, the place where He called His leaders and formed His followers. In the Bible nothing but good comes out of the wilderness. The wilderness is an experience to be embraced, not a punishment to be escaped. Much popular thinking sees the wilderness as bad, something to be avoided at all costs, but, when we understand the true meaning of the wilderness, we see it as hard but good. Just as Israel pursued a zigzag line across the wilderness to the Promised Land, so we must pursue a zigzag life toward God's fruitfulness for us. In fact, the zigzag life is the shortest distance to fruitfulness in God's purposes. So let's enter into our wilderness wanderings, not with fear, but with the anticipation of God's good hand on us, purifying us through His holiness while using us for His glory.