Our Wilderness Journey

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry."    --Matthew 4:1-2

I was asked to preach at my fortieth class reunion (Redbank Valley High School Class of 1973). We will hold a community worship service at a local park to conclude our three-day reunion celebration. I have entitled the sermon, "40 Years is a Long, Long Time."

Over the years, I've had a few of those 'special' birthdays: 25, 30, 40, 50, and even 55, but none of them caused me to think twice. My 40th class reunion has caused me to pause and consider what a long time 40 years really is. My classmates and I are now grandparents. Some have already retired or become disabled. A few are just finishing additional schooling ready to start a new career. A lot can happen in forty years.

Forty is also one of God's special numbers. It rained forty days and nights on Noah and the ark. Moses spent forty years as a son of Pharaoh, forty as a shepherd, and forty as deliverer of the Israelites from Egypt. He also spent forty days on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. Joshua, Caleb, and ten spies spent forty days scoping out the Promised Land. After the ten brought back a bad report, the Jewish people wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Even Jesus, God's Son, fasted forty days and was tempted by the devil. Although ours may be more than forty days or less than forty years, we all go through our own wilderness journeys.

Each of the forty day or year journeys seem to have three things in common: they were times of God's judgment/testing, provision, and new beginnings. Looking at Jesus' temptation, we see that God led Jesus into the wilderness by The Holy Spirit for a time of testing and perfecting before He began His public earthly ministry.

During Jesus time of trial, God, through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, provided Him with strength to overcome Satan's attacks. Notice that after the temptation, God sent angels to minister to Jesus (Matt. 4:11). As we go through wilderness journeys, we look to and rely on the Lord for strength, wisdom, and provision.

Jesus' temptation in the wilderness became a new beginning not only for Jesus, as He left the obscurity of His Nazareth home to proclaim the Good News, but also the entire world. "From that time, Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Matt. 4:17).

One interesting fact about these wilderness times is that they are all three things at the same time. Looking at Noah, Moses, the Jews, or Jesus, the wilderness seasons were at the same time provision while they were testing/judgment and new beginnings. It seemed to depend upon their position in life and the direction of their walk with God.

Where are you in your wilderness journey? Have you experienced God's wonderful hand of provision? Are you leaning heavily on God's promises for sustenance and strength through a long and difficult time? I pray you have also experienced the joy of new life in Jesus Christ. Just remenber, God loves you. As you face the challenges of life, be certain that God does all things for your good. Nothing comes your way that has not been filtered through God's love.  Jesus' temptation began with the Spirit's leading and ended with God's ministering angels. God is present in the beginning and end of our jouney. He's there all the time. Trust Him.