Thursday, June 5, 2025
Word in the Wilderness Submitted by Kay Crumley
I am reading a book by Kristi McLelland titled “Feasting on God’s Word”. She describes the seasons of our lives as they parallel with Biblical teachings. She uses the Middle Eastern perspective to help more clearly understand the passages we are familiar with that may not have the same meaning in the Western world as in the Middle Eastern world. One example is the prayer from Psalm 23. The Lord is my Shepherd; He makes me lie down in green pastures. In my perception I picture the green pastures as we see our yards or fields in this season, fully green and beautiful covered with lush grasses. However, in the more arid regions in Israel the idea is very different. Rather than thick green grassland they have barren land with green patches. The idea that God will lead us to an area in mostly bare fields to patches of grass is totally different. That makes me understand having a Shepherd who can find patches of green grass in a desert like wilderness much more awe inspiring.
I have chosen to focus on her teaching of the wilderness. We have all experienced wilderness seasons in our lives when it just seems like we have too little. That might be in terms of finances, education, resources, or spiritual growth. Any time you need direction, a word from God, can be a wilderness season of life. The Hebrew word Davar means thing or word. Bemidbar is Hebrew for in the wilderness. Thus, Davar Bemidbar is a word in the wilderness. Where in the Bible do we know that God spoke to people in the wilderness?
Moses was in the wilderness when he encountered a burning bush that was not consumed, Exodus 3. God gave him the direction to become the leader of the Israelites to lead them out of captivity, bondage, to the Egyptians. Through Moses, God gave them the Ten Commandments, protection, food, and the promised land of Canaan.
Elijah, 1 Kings 18-19, defeated the prophets of Jezebel who believed themselves stronger than the God of Israel. Elijah cried out to God to bring down fire from heaven to demonstrate His power. Then, after that mountain top experience, Elijah ran into hiding in the wilderness because Jezebel had a bounty on him. He was in hiding convinced he was about to die when he heard God’s ‘still small voice’ that gave him hope.
Jesus went into the wilderness 40 days and nights immediately following His baptism by John. He began His ministry after that time in the wilderness. He came from that wilderness time, according to scholars, with the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5-7, on His tongue. That was the central message of His teaching throughout the three years He taught, healed, and prepared His followers.
The apostle Paul went into Arabia for three years following his Damascus Road encounter with Jesus, Galatians 4. He then became the missionary to the Gentiles preaching, planting churches, and leading many to become followers of Jesus Christ. He was prepared by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness to fulfill God’s purpose for him.
The Jewish people believe that God does some of His best work in the wilderness. When we have reached the realization that we are unable to find the solution on our own we are forced to seek help. God is our ever-present help in time of trouble, Psalm 46:1-3. He is always with us; He will never leave or forsake us because we are His. As children of God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. It may take a wilderness experience for us to be still and quiet, separated from the world’s noise, for us to hear His still small voice give us the answers or direction we need. We may have to stay in the wilderness for God to work in His perfect timing to prepare us and lead us to accomplish His purpose. We must pay close attention for the Davar Bemidbar from God.
