LEARNING LIFE LESSONS IN THE WILDERNESS. Israel had to start all over again in their relationship with God after many generations of slavery in Egypt. Being in the empty wilderness kept them from being independent and distracted by the usual affairs of a nation's normal life. Life in the wilderness was years of spiritual emptiness in which God had to teach them patiently, discipline them, and feed them so they would learn what it is like to be associated with God in a special way.
Israel became a recognizable nation during those forty years. They received laws to follow just a few months after their emancipation. These laws were meant to guide their social and national lives, and then there was a system of sacrifices explained to direct their worship of God. They had a national covenant, “I will be your God, and you shall be My people.” After receiving all these instructions and being provided with food and water by God's power, they should have been ready to enter the promised land by the time they reached the border, but they weren’t. They had the rituals but not the faith.
The whole nation had to wait until the faithless generation passed away and their children and grandchildren learned that their God is a sovereign God. He doesn’t give up on His people and will patiently discipline them to prepare them to fulfill His plans and purposes to bless them. God was willing to wait for thirty-eight years and endure their murmuring and complaints. He had to judge and discipline them repeatedly until they understood that they could not continue in sin and maintain fellowship with God at the same time.
The events that happened to them serve as lessons for us, who have been saved from the bondage of sin, and remind us that sin will always catch up with us. We cannot escape God's hand of correction and discipline when we lose focus on our Lord. Temptations will always be present in one form or another, but it is crucial to our faith that we resist them. Faith, gratitude, confidence, and obedience are all essential as we walk with our Lord Jesus Christ through this life.
Ingratitude and disobedience lead to rebellion and a tendency to follow our own way. Ignoring God's will and His written commands has consequences. The Lord disciplines those He loves to transform us and guides us in paths of righteousness for “His name’s sake.” Rejecting, despising, and rebelling against our gracious Father's loving and strong hand will cause us to wander aimlessly in this sinful, wilderness world. We are called not only to separate ourselves from the world but also to avoid touching the uncleanness of the sinful society in which we are called to be salt and light.
Redeemed people who have entered into the blessings of the new covenant of grace through the “blood of Christ” are God’s people. We are on this earth involved in establishing the kingdom of God by preaching the Gospel and following the commission our Lord Jesus Christ gave us. The power of the Gospel changes people from within, not just through an outward change of lifestyle. We are to be engaged in this work as we travel through this world, following the Lord wherever He leads us.
To bring His sovereign plans to the desired purpose, God disciplines us positively by teaching, guiding, and controlling our lives in ways that are pleasing to Him. It also gives us meaning and satisfaction when we are willing to do His will. When we persist in doing what is wrong, He chastens us as any father would correct unruly children. “For this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” is a warning that God will take whatever steps are necessary to instruct us and keep us from influencing others wrongly.
The book of Numbers is a living testimony to God's grace generously poured out on His redeemed people. God’s steady provision of food and water for the Israelites was an act of His grace. His divine protection from their enemies was an act of His grace. The cloud by day and the fire by night to guide and protect them was an act of divine grace. The significant increase in their population was an act of grace that transformed the redeemed people into a nation to be reckoned with.
The book of Numbers illustrates human failures through repeated cycles of sin, judgment, repentance, and the consequences that follow. It also shows God’s response of patience and mercy as He went to great lengths to transform their attitude and conduct, shaping them into an orderly, functioning society that became a nation. Today, that nation is recognized as a unique people despite all its failures throughout history.
The learning process depends not only on what we read and learn but also on how we apply what we learn. Wisdom, understanding, and righteousness uplift a nation that is dedicated to following God’s commandments. When God works with His people—whether in a nation, a congregation of Christians, or individual believers in Christ—everyone can experience great benefits. Most importantly, it brings glory to our God.
The book of Numbers highlights lessons from Israel’s unbelief, God’s discipline, patience with them, and “their manners in the wilderness.” They received God’s laws at Mt. Sinai and heard the promise of blessing when they obeyed them. Unfortunately, they began to complain about the food, Moses’ leadership, and the size of their enemies, losing sight of God. An entire generation had to die before they could trust God and move forward by faith to claim what He had promised.