Living in the Desert When God Promised More

What happened to the abundant life God promised? Are you discouraged and wondering where God is? You are not alone. The Israelites experienced the same thing.

Exodus 3:17  says, "And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’"

This is a promise of abundant life given to a people who had spent generations in slavery and bondage. This was actually promised to them before they found themselves in bondage (Genesis 24)

God sends Moses and leads them out of Egypt. They get to the promised land and are ready to go in. They send spies in to check out the land. The spies bring back a report of how great the land is. They even bring back samples of the food. However, ten out of twelve spies say it is a no go. God took care of the entire Egyptian army without the Israelites having to pick up a weapon. He cared for them as they went through the desert. Even with their past experiences, they could not see past the giants in the land. Instead of having faith they wanted to return to their bondage.

     Numbers 14:1-4 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept                 aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to             them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this       land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder.Wouldn’t it         be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader         and go back to Egypt.”
This complaining led to the Israelites wandering in the desert for the rest of their lives (Numbers 14)

I am not one to come down hard on the Israelites for their lack of faith. I have watched God defeat the enemy in numerous battles and he has cared for me in a number of deserts in my life. Just like the Israelites, when I am facing the impossible, it is hard to see past the giants. It is more natural to forget and start complaining.

Some of you are like the Israelites too. God promised you an abundant life, more often then not, you are wandering through the desert. Maybe it is a desert with your kids. Maybe your marriage has hit a dry season. Maybe you are in a drought in hearing from God. God wants to pour out his blessings on your life. Jesus delivered you from what held you in bondage, but you keep trying to wander back to that slavery. You keep being pulled back toward that addction. You keep going back to that relationship. You keep turning to others' opinions of you. You keep trusting in your position and possessions. God is trying to lead you somewhere and all you see are the giants that stand in front of you. God wants you to give you all that He has promised you. You have to be willing to walk through the tribulation and take it. Just like the Israelites, you might have to fight for it. God never promised it would be easy. He just promised he would journey with you.