THE WILDERNESS OF SIN
I remember being warned by our Pastor to be cautious after times of victory because the devil hasn’t given up. Often after a great victory we have a tendency to let our guard down. Maybe you have experienced that… You feel guilty for having a bad attitude when you know you have no reason to act that way. This time of year in our family we have birthdays every other week and Christmas as well. My kids will receive many gifts and be given many privileges during this time of the year. However, this is often when the worst attitudes come out. Maybe you’ve experienced that in your own home and in your own life.
The children of Israel were no different. God had just delivered them from slavery in Egypt with the incredible miracle of parting the Red Sea. Now they are entering the Wilderness of Sin. While the name “Sin” refers to a geographical region of desert located between Elim and Mount Sinai, it is very fitting because of the children of Israel’s rotten attitude. God was patient with them… but they never truly got over this attitude and they ended up wandering around the rest of their lives and never experienced the promised land.
Friend, if there is sin in your life, get it right and don’t let it stop you from experiencing the blessings of God. There are three main things that the children of Israel struggled with that may seem small but they metastasized over time and their generation died in the wilderness because they wouldn’t get their heart right with God.
1. They Doubted
Exodus 16:3 “And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
So often the journey away from God starts right here with doubting God. We forget the blessings of God. We forgot about the glory and power of God. We stop spending quality time with the Lord and in that moment our hearts and minds get filled with doubt. We begin to question His goodness. We question His plans. We question our situation. I want to encourage you my friend, if your heart is filled with doubt, it’s time to get back in His Word daily, stay faithful in prayer and listen intently when the Word of God is preached. The only answer for doubt is drawing closer to the Lord. It’s hard to doubt something that’s right in front of you.
2. They Complained
Exodus 16:11-12 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.”
The next phase of the journey away from the Lord, is complaining. This is when what’s happening in our heart starts spewing out of our mouths. Complaining comes when we have a lack of faith and an ungrateful heart. I’m so guilty often of only seeing the things that are wrong instead of seeing what is good and right and being grateful for it. No matter how justified we feel about complaining, there is never a good reason for us to have a heart filled with complaints. Over the last several years, God has worked overtime on me about this and I have discovered that the answer to correcting complaining is a heart of gratitude. Count your blessings my friend “and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
3. They Disobeyed
Exodus 16:27 “And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.”
God was clear with His instructions but the children of Israel were too busy complaining that they either didn’t hear or didn’t care what God said. They walked out on the seventh day to get food from God and there was nothing. When we don’t get our doubting heart and complaining mouth right, we began to defy the Lord. I don’t think we always realize the dangerous position that disobedience puts us in with God. When we defy the Lord we are placing ourselves in opposition to Him. We are crossing enemy lines and fighting for the wrong side. If we are going to correct disobedience, we are going to have to get rid of our pride, fully trust God and follow His commands. It’s time to wave the white flag, beg God for forgiveness and get back on the winning side!
Unfortunately, the children of Israel plowed past every level on their journey away from God. God was gracious to them along the way… but eventually we read this verse:
Numbers 14:29-30 “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land…”
Judgement is the destination on this journey away from the Lord. Turn around my friend or there may come a day when you find yourself fighting for the wrong side. If you have doubt, draw close to the Lord. If you’re complaining, count your blessings. If you’re disobeying, it’s time to swallow your pride and trust the Lord.
May God bless you! Thank you for reading this devotional. If this has been a blessing or a help to you, feel free to share it with someone else.
