COMING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
Deuteronomy 32:10 “He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.
Desert = “to speak” Location, Vocation and Education.
Deuteronomy 8:2,3 “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.3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
Transition is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "The period of passing from one condition, form, stage, activity, place, etc. to another condition, form, stage, activity, place, etc.
There are numerous transitions in the Bible, two major transitions that took place. The first is found in Deuteronomy 34, Joshua 1, and Joshua 3. The second is found in Acts chapters 1 and 2. In both instances, a major spiritual transition took place that took God's children from one realm of living to another realm of life. In both instances, an old transition was ended, a waiting period occurred and a new transition took place. In both instances, the mission on earth for the individuals involved was finished in order for a new purpose to begin, but the impact, power, and the anointing remained.
From Moses to Joshua; From Wilderness to Promise Land.
In Deuteronomy 34, we see in the first four verses where God took Moses upon the mountain to allow Moses to see the Promise Land, but not enter it. It was because of Moses' disobedience of striking a rock with his staff instead of speaking to the rock to yield water that caused God to punish Moses by not allowing Moses to enter the Promise Land. Here, we see the old generation and thinking come unto it's timely death and a new leader and a new generation getting ready to take what God had promised them. In the remaining verses within chapter 34, we now see that Moses had died at 120 years old with his physical health and vision still intact. It is in these scriptures that we discover that the Lord buried Moses to the point where nobody knew where Moses was buried. I find this very interesting that the Scriptures explicitly state that Moses was buried, but nobody knew where he was buried.
Even though the Scriptures does not state why God buried Moses in this fashion, I feel deep within me that the reason God buried Moses in this fashion was to break a spirit and mentality of nostalgia and yearning and worshipping the past. Just as Moses died and Joshua took over, old movements of God come into pass and a new move of God comes shortly thereafter. It was God's will for Moses to enter the Promise Land but Moses failed the test. In the Promise Land a new work and a new way of God's sovereign move was going to take place. Moses showed by striking the rock for water instead of speaking to the rock to receive water that Moses was not open to new moves of God. We see this today in the modern church. Where these followers of God in the past movement (in some cases, they follow the move itself instead of the God that brought the movement), do everything to preserve the music, messages, mentalities, methodologies, memories and ministry of their great men of faith, they have forgotten that they were once the Joshua generation that took a risk by entering into a promise land that the Moses mentality before them could not enter.
After Moses died, Joshua and the Israelites went through a grieving and mourning period for thirty days, it was in this time of transition where Joshua took over and the Israelites remembered and laid to rest the works of Moses and prepared themselves for the new work of Joshua.
Lessons learnt these forty years in the wilderness are found in the spiritual principles taught by the number 40
1. Realize we have an open window of heaven and look for the sign from the Lord that your wilderness is ending. First mention: Genesis 8:6 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. At the end of 40 days, Noah opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven and then a dove. He waited until he saw the sign of land that he needed.
2. A shift from mourning to joy Genesis 50:3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. Biblically, mourning has a set period of time. They mourned the loss of Joseph for 40 days. Many of us are going through mourning seasons. However, let God break you from mourning into dancing during these 40 days. Rebuke death over your life.
3. How to receive revelation regarding God's covenant plan for your future Exodus 24:18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
4. See the promise Numbers 13:25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. They went out and spied the land for 40 days. During this time, let God reveal the intricacies of your promise. However, do not let the vision of war overtake you.
5. A time of coming spiritual responsibility so we can steward the riches that God has to release to us in the future. I believe this 40 days is a key time to look at the stewardship issues of our lives. Numbers 14:34 ‘According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.
6. A time of purity Deuteronomy 9:18 “And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. One key reason for wilderness times is for use to change our mind and think the way God thinks.
7. A time of mercy and provision 1 Kings 19:8 so he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. Know that past mistakes can be rectified quickly.
8. How to overcome the giants 1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. Goliath taunted God's covenant people 40 days. The devil will try to convince you during your wilderness season that he will overcome you. He might speak, but do not receive his lies.
9. A time of intercession Ezekiel 4:6 “And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. Ezekiel interceded for Judah for 40 days.
10. A lesson of spiritual discipline Matthew 4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Jesus fasted during His wilderness time so He would stay alert to the enemy. Ask God to show you His discipline for you for this 40 days.
11. A time to recognize that there is a host of heaven available to us even in the wilderness. Let the host of heaven aid you. Mark 1:13 says, "And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him."
12. Submission to God When Jesus entered into the wilderness He immediately submitted Himself to God. From this place of submission He was able to resist the enemy. He resisted presumption. He resisted pride. He resisted the lust of the eyes. He resisted the promise of grandeur. He entered the wilderness filled with the Spirit, but He came out with power.
Expect visitation! (Acts 1:3). Jesus presented Himself to His disciples after He had suffered death. He spoke things to them for 40 days pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Ask the Lord to bring Kingdom revelation to you in these next forty days.
Receive power! Luke 4:13-15 say, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all."
Power is the ability to act or produce an effect. Power also signifies the possession of authority that an individual has over others. He is also raising up leadership new and fresh, and developing people's gifting in a new way. This will give us dominion in the earth. Even though you might now feel weak, get ready to receive power. Let your wilderness time develop a new strength and power within you. He gives us power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.
Be Transformed! Be not afraid ye beasts of the field for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree bears her fruit, the fig tree and vine do yield their strength" Joel 2:22 Song of Solomon 3:6-10 Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?7 Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel.8 They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night.(ready to deal with the enemy even a surprise attack)9 Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin:10 He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem.
Pillars of silver – redemption
Support of Gold – foundations of faith
Seat of purple – heavenly position
Paved with love – held together by love
