Before God uses a person for His divine purposes, He will firstly bring him/her from all that he/she is familiar with; so that He may place him/her in the wilderness for divine training and impartation. However, it is up to the person to submit wholeheartedly to the Lord’s training and chastisements. eg Israel, when God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, so that He may make them His chosen people. Israel however, did not comply with God’s will for them whilst God was training and chastising them in the wilderness. They continued to disobey God and test God many times. Deuteronomy 8:2, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments or not”.
The purpose of the wilderness is not to destroy or harm us; rather, it is to positively break our defence, self-preservation, confidence and character. The wilderness humbles us as we are brought face to face with our weakness, excuses and inadequacies. God uses the wilderness to prune, shape and prepare us to walk in godliness and righteousness. in order for God to remould us in alignment with His divine will for our lives. Isaiah 64:8, “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”. Ezekiel 20:35, “And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face”.
As a result of Israel’s persistent disobedience to God and His Commandments, Israel aborted God’s perfect will for them. The wilderness is a dry place, where God places a person of interest against all odds; in order to make that person great by fulfilling His perfect will in, and through him/her. Hosea 2:14, “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the to her”. In the wilderness, our cooperation with God’s intentions for us, plays a crucial part in the fulfilment of God’s will in our lives God will not force us to comply with His divine will; hence the reason many people forsake the wilderness because of its severity and scrutiny. Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives”.
The wilderness can sometimes also be referred to as “The dark nights in the soul”. It is a place where we feel like there is hardly any light out of the tunnel. It is usually a period where we face many trials, to test our undiluted faith in God, His word and promises to us. The wilderness may feel lonely, isolated and painful; however, God allows us to go through this isolated period because He wants us to depend fully on Him, and nobody else, including ourselves. Matthew 4:4, “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”.
It is crucial to note that God does not lead us to the wilderness without His divine presence with us. A beautiful example of the wilderness could be compared to the adage that states, “During the students’ test, the teacher is quiet”. The teacher may be in the same room as the students when the test is going on; however, the teacher quietly observes the students without any interference, to ensure that the examination process is adhered to appropriately. The teacher does this because he/she aims to teach the students values, integrity, honesty, discipline and the benefits of hard work. Also, after the test is completed, the teacher celebrates and commends the students for their efforts. Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”.
The most significant attribute of the wilderness period is that, it aligns us with God’s perfect will us; through total surrender unto God, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
Examples of Those who God placed in the wilderness.
1. David: David waited for 15 years to become king. 2 Samuel 5:4-5.
2. Ezekiel: Ezekiel prayed and fasted for 430. Ezekiel 4:4-8.
3. Moses: Moses was in the wilderness for forty years. Deuteronomy 29:5.
4. John the Baptist: John the Baptist was in the wilderness for thirty years. Matthew 3:1-11.
5. Joseph: Joseph waited thirteen years in slavery because God exalted. Genesis 41:37-57.
6. Job: Job lost everything and was very ill, yet he stated faithful to God in his intense trial. Job 1:13-22.
7. Paul: Paul spent three years in Arabia, being taught by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 1:17-18.
8. Jesus Christ: Jesus spent forty years in the wilderness and tested by satan before His ministry began. Mark 1:12-15.
Seven Reasons Why God Places Us In The Wilderness.
1. For Purification (sanctification)
2. For Training and divine Instructions.
3. For Edifying
4. To test our hearts for alignment.
5. To enable us to cultivate patience and humility.
6. To build our faith in God, His word and promises.
7. To remove all distractions and unhealthy connections from our lives.
Seven Blessings of the Wilderness Period
1. Peace and joy in the midst of the battles and chaos.
2. A clear understanding of God’s voice, His will, word and ways. We receive instructions and directions from God.
3. To develop an intimate fellowship with the Holy Trinity.
4. Build strong faith and increased confidence in God.
5. Positive self-transformation with the help of the Holy Spirit.
6. Prayer development and growth through studying God’s word.
7. Divine blessings of spiritual gifts; such as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
God bless you 