Beauty of the Barren Land

Israel was about a month and a half into it’s journey from the Red Sea to Sinai when the grumbling broke out: “There was good grub aplenty in Goshen - but a big nothing here in the wilderness.” Instead of giving these whiners what they deserved, God served up a hearty helping of grace for the journey!

The miracle of manna was less flashy than the Egyptian plagues and Red Sea Victory, but it was a wonder, the original wonder-bread! Manna tasted like honey wafers and sustained the people of Israel for all of their wilderness camping adventure.

Near the end of his life, Moses reflected on the manna project and recalled, “And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Notice the sequence – hunger first, then satisfaction.

God had a plan all along. He knew exactly what He intended – to take care of His people by supplying them with daily bread. And He could have easily provided manna from the very first day of Israel’s journey. But He did not: He dished out a hearty helping of deprivation. For 45 days, God required Israel to experience first hand what trying to live off the land was like when said land is a desert. Why did God do this? God wanted Israel to learn something profound: The presence or absence of resources (like bread) does not make the difference in how (and if) a man lives. Whatever God says does.

I am intrigued by something else. A period of going without was part of God’s preparation of Israel to receive what He intended to give them. Deprivation allowed them to appreciate manna for what it was, something unprecedented; something spoken into existence by God Himself; the precious gift of life. Manna was not just an improvement in wilderness life. It was life and Israel’s previous campaign of “45 days of hunger” proved it.

This incident provides a window into how God operates. He often withholds the good He intends for us, for a season, precisely because He is using deprivation to prepare us to receive His gifts. When we are ready, when we will receive His gift with the joy of a famished man given bread, He will speak into existence what we need. The beauty of the desert lies in how it readies the heart. Do not despise your sojourn in a barren land. It is preparing your heart to receive what can only come from the good hand of God.

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[Grace]

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