The Desert

I have often thought that storms and deserts were synonymous; however, this is not the case. I think what I will do over the next couple of Blogs is contrast the two, which I believe will help in gaining a better understanding of our God...

I found this brief article regarding deserts by George J. Miller

When you learn of the desert experience, remember what, or who led you into it. That very same situation belonged to Moses, before and after he led the Hebrews out of Egypt. God brought him into Midian, he spent 40 years living nearby Mt. Sinai, his desert experience.
Then look at Elijah, after defeating the prophets of Baal, was put on the run by Jezebel and her promise to take his life. Guess where he went to experience his desert experience?
Yes! the same place where 200 years earlier God had sent Moses, only it was called Horeb, his desert experience.

Why does God require this desert experience for us all?

We usually have reached the end of our spiritual strength, and God places us where he knows we can be reached. It's a desolate place, that desert, it seems like the perfect barren spiritual place he wishes us in to listen.

Usually, but not always we put ourselves there in the first place. We tend to do things in our strength, without His anointing. He lets us do this, so we can realise we are out of touch with him, and must pursue self-examination.
We feel lost as though he's left us, when we made the first step away from his grace.
Two examples of powerful men of God placed in a position of deep humility, wondering, why?

Gods reason is one of revelation, not of what has taken place in both these lives leading up to their "desert experiences," but for them to examine themselves and their relationship with him.

For both of these great men were to need a great spiritual strengthening and preparation for what was to come. Moses was to lead the Hebrew children out of Egypt, and Elijah would receive the double portion upon himself, in order to bestow it upon his successor Elisha. No easy tasks in either mans future, but doable with Gods anointing, and blessings.

So a desert experience is not a punishment, it is a way to get one spiritually right again with God, and prepare for a great work for Him that is yet to come about. It is Gods way of recharging the human soul...

"Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice,and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."
Deuteronomy 13:4

© George J. Miller
http://www.soon.org.uk/thought/desert_experience.htm