At Home in the Wilderness
Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 NASB
Wilderness – Not everyone finds grace in the wilderness. God says that His people, the ones who have survived the sword, the ones He calls Israel, find something unexpected in the wilderness. They find grace.
Imagine the joy of finding what your soul longs for in a place where no man can survive! The wilderness, where we know we will die on our own, is God’s playground of grace. Why? Because grace is for those who know they cannot survive without it. Grace does not arrive in the midst of affluence. It is not found in the air-conditioned, video-enhanced, amplified and opulent monuments to what we can do without the Spirit. Grace comes to us, powerfully, personally, in the desolation of our lives. Grace is a lover of desperation.
The amazing fact of life is that we are all desperate. We are all desolate. We all are in need of the sustaining Spirit. But we will not all find grace in our wilderness. Grace is for those who survive the sword. Who are these people? They are the ones to whom God says, “You shall be my people, and I will be your God.” They are the people who have been cut. They are the ones who bled. Surviving the sword means putting your life in the hands of your God as the world slices away at you. It means cutting loose from the patterns that block your way into the wilderness. It means standing unafraid in the face of hardship, pain and death. It means that God is the Lord of my life no matter what circumstances I may encounter. It means worshipping Him even if He doesn’t save us from the furnace or restore us from disaster because He is worthy of my allegiance.
Some will flee the wilderness. They will seek remedies for self-protection. They will turn from the call to cut away the patterns of a world in rebellion. They will say, “I wish I could live by faith, but I have to be practical.” They do not know that grace resides in inhospitable circumstances. Mercy comes unexpectedly, not by religious incantations or magical name formulae. Mercy is unmerited surprise. But you can’t be surprised by something that you plan and control. You have to bleed in order to live mercifully.
Where are you today? In the wilderness, feeling the pain of the sword? Or are you comfortable in the city made by men? Where will grace encounter you if you have walled out emptiness?
Topical Index: wilderness, midbar, grace, sword, Jeremiah 31:2
Makes me think of a movie with Robert Redford called Jeremiah Johnson; about a man who lived alone in the wilderness,
~ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ ~
(2 Corinthians 1.2)
A MIRACLE IN THE WILDERNESS
Once upon a time, a new Man, conceived by the
Holy Spirit, was born into Bethlehem to replace the
old man of sin who for years was wandering lost
in the wilderness.
It’s the story known as the Gospel.
It’s the very same story of good news in us,
where the very same birth of a new Man is
conceived by the very same Holy Spirit in our
Bethlehem delivery room in the wilderness.
This too good to be true miraculous story happens
to those of us who “somehow know” there’s much
more to the story than meets the eye.
And like all newborns, slowly but surely we begin
to see, but this time we see what He sees. We begin
to think like He thinks. We begin to do what He does.
Peter wrote the following to describe the results of
his new birth. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord,
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who
called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given
to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through
these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Pet 1:2-4
Partakers of the divine nature!
It’s a miracle that changes everything. Perhaps even making
our wilderness a little bit of heaven!
And so the story goes. Amen.
Thank you, Rich! This has been a banquet of the Truths of our God. I have been wonderfully fed!
Helen
Amen! What a timely message Skip!
It is as we find His grace in the spiritual wilderness of our souls that we will be able to live by our faith when the physical desolations come as told to Yohannan and written in the book of Revelation. As we accept His grace by faith today, albeit in the inner desolations, we will have His grace to live when everything that we know today is gone.
It is today, that we need to develop a love relationship with our Abba and His Saviour in order that we may stand in that great judgement, covered by His righteousness.
Shabbat shalom.
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve contributed anything to the posts. I need to say something to the community, and this is the day to do it.. My wife and I have been traveling in the wilderness. My wife fell middle of August, badly breaking her hip, beyond “repair,” and requiring a total hip replacement. She went from a life of happily moving and stretching to one of brokenness, in the blink of an eye. She feels it was her own carelessness that got her into this fix, and that she has caused trouble for many people. Grace?
To think she might find grace in this, now that’s a novel thought! We are both grateful for the daily messages and posts. This very short scripture is a “shot in the arm” for us. Big things happen to us, but it’s the little things that carry us through. Shabbat shalom to all.
Amen, Thomas! Prayers lifted for you and your wife as you travel the way.
Warning: This wilderness living is not like it appears on the movie screen, it is extremely difficult. Being refined by fire is not for the faint of heart. But our Heavenly Father is merciful and has eased us into the fire, bit by bit as much as we can tolerate and not break apart completely.
We have been in the “wilderness” for a few years now. Initially, we attempted to take matters into our own hands. What a disaster that was. Yah taught us to trust Him instead. He has given us strength to endure, praise Yah! And I truly understand now that it is by grace we are saved and not of ourselves. Most see this from the perspective of works of the law and doing good deeds. Perhaps the deeper lesson lies in trust for basic needs, stepping out on faith and letting Abba’s grace reveal itself. As Abraham learned through Isaac’s near death: he didn’t know what would come of it, but Abraham stepped out in faith so grace, by way of the ram, could be given to him.
I think so many miss the opportunity for YHVH to work in their lives by turning to Egypt (the government) for help rather than trust in the One True God and Creator of All.
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help…But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek YHVH!…Now the Egyptians are men, and not God. And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. And when YHVH stretches out His hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall. And they shall all fall together…For in that day, let each man reject his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made for yourselves, as a sin…” Isaiah 31:1-9
The verse proceeds to explain how they became slaves because of their fear. Is that not what is occurring all across America today? Over half of the population receives government benefits and welfare as they turn to Egypt/govt, in fear of hunger. And freedom is traded for the security govt promises, for fear of the sword.
I sense a modern day Exodus occurring for those who trust in YHVH over this Egypt of today, who endure “the sword” over turning to the government for our needs. Many more will be joining us “in the wilderness”. Prepare your hearts and minds for action now, train for this marathon like it’s your crowning achievement, because if you endure and do not fail, it will be your crown. Set your hope fully on the the grace to be given to you when Yeshua Messiah is revealed.
Why must we go through such trials? I am always lovingly brought back to this verse by the All Mighty when I grow weak and weary to ask such things:
“And you shall remember that YHVH your Elohim led you all the eay 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.” Deut 8:2
I pray this is an encouragement to all who are in the wilderness today. Please remember us in your prayers as well, this wilderness thing is not easy!! Thank you for bringing this verse and your commentary to the light for discussion. It is most appreciated.
It seems like there are many different kinds of wildernesses. Traumatic circumstances, debilitating health issues, economic hardship, etc. But maybe the most troubling and confusing is the wilderness that comes as the result of obedience. We expect the clouds to part and the sun to shine on us after we’ve chosen to do the hard thing and obey, but instead the clouds get even darker. We seek the throne of grace and mercy to find help in the time of need, but instead seem to run into a brick wall. Why did Yeshua ask that haunting question after telling the parable of the unjust judge, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Is it because to all appearances it will indeed look like God is an unjust judge. Only those whose faith has been tried in the fire will be able to endure to the end, will have not only the faith but also the patience to be able to inherit the promises.
It has been said that Satan was able to make himself and his ways look more attractive to man when man was in an ideal environment. But before this age is over God will have a people who, in the worst of times. when it looks like they have indeed been abandoned by their God, will resolutely choose to love and obey Him, who will indeed shine like stars in the blackest of nights. Are we willing to follow our Master into that black night, to drink the same cup that He drank? Indeed, it will be His amazing grace that will get us there! But we dare not gloss over the costliness of that grace! We who live in the most affluent and insulated (from pain and suffering) society that has ever existed are not ready for this. But that is changing. Though we are faithless, He remains faithful.
I do not think I could have fully comprehended what you are saying here, Skip, without first being brought to a point in my life where all hope seemed lost. When I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I suddenly faced the, all to real, fact that at some point, I am going to die. I started thinking about my life and suddenly, the only thing that mattered was life and my relationship with the Almighty and the people around me that I love dearly. But it was more than that, as I started getting rid of all the things in my life that are not necessary, I suddenly found myself in an abundance of blessings. Things I could never had imagined would be happening to me. I could not understand why the Father, all of a sudden, was blessing me, and in some cases, granting me things I had prayed for, for many years. As I read this post, I realized that I am in the wilderness. And now that I am there and realize how totally dependent on the Almighty I am for all things, and indeed my very life. He has thrust grace in abundance upon me. I can only fall on my face and thank him and accept his will and his grace and mercy. I am not sure what the future holds, but I know who holds the future! I am now able to face anything, without fear, even death, for it is the doorway into the kingdom! Thank you for this post and may the Almighty truly continue to bless you!
I have found myself in the wilderness more than once. God sends me there often for cleansing and to remind me just who is my rock.
I tend to think I am my own rock a little to often and my Father loves me enough to remind me of His truth.
We learn and grow in wilderness trips if we submit to Him. Death comes to all at some point but not all will go to Him. If we do not submit in life, death is to late. This is a hard truth to realize when one seeks to serve oneself.
This has been the bane of my life-being self serving. This is why I must constantly choose to seek Him and obey His word. I have my issues that I continue to struggle with but this community helps me move forward and I am blessed because of this. I thank all of you for your contributions here. You help keep a sister humble. 🙂