Waiting Through the Wilderness Time of Lent for God's Easter Deliverance

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

As I sit writing on Wednesday, March 20, the skies are overcast, the wind blowing, and the trees are bare. Much of our snow has melted, but dirty piles still stand in places.  No leaves grace the trees.  There are no visible buds on the branches and no flowers in the gardens.  This “part winter – part spring” time of year can be dreary and even affect one’s spirits.  In some ways this in-between season seems to last too long.  And, this time of year always seems to come during the church season of Lent.  Perhaps the time of waiting and perseverance makes real spring and summer, with leaves and flower and warmth, that much more sweet.

 

In my devotions on Wednesday I read from Numbers 13-15.  In this account from God’s Word the people of Israel, camping at Paran, have sent twelve scouts or spies into the land of Canaan which God promised to give His chosen people.  But, the people inhabiting the land seem big and strong to the scouts.  The Canaanite cities are fortified.  Ten of the twelve spies give a report of fear and doom.  "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. (Numbers 13:32)  The people who have been led to the land by God, want to turn around and go back to Egypt.

 

God responds with anger at the doubt and the faithlessness of His people, in spite of all His signs of deliverance.  (Numbers 13:11)    At Moses’ pleading the Lord forgives the people, and they are not destroyed.  However, those who left Egypt will die in the desert.  The Israelites will now wander in the wilderness for 40 years.  Those who were 20 or older when they left Egypt will perish in the wilderness during those forty years.  Now their children will inherit the land.

 

20 The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times-- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

 

Can you imagine the disappointment, and then the drudgery of 40 years in the wilderness?  Forty years in a dry, hot, dusty part of the world!  The Promised Land is in sight.  But, it will take so long going through the wilderness to get there!

 

Perhaps you have noticed how the number 40 is often connected in Scripture with times of waiting and suffering and testing.  The Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years.  When the floods came on Noah, it rained for forty days and forty nights.  (Genesis 7:12) Jesus was tested in the wilderness by Satan for 40 days.  (Luke 4:1-2)  In Scripture this wilderness time is one of waiting and testing until God’s people are delivered.

 

You know by experience that there are many “wilderness” times in all of our lives.  Life brings pain, disappointments, and failure.  Some of our struggles and wanderings are our own doing, when we turn from God’s guidance and God’s law and bring these struggles on ourselves, like the Israelites did.  But, sometimes, even as we seek God’s guidance and help and strength, life still seems like painful drudgery.  Life can seem a wilderness where we wander, hoping and waiting for the refreshment of God’s love and deliverance. 

 

But, in spite of the doubt and faithlessness of the Israelites, God continued with them throughout their time in the wilderness.  They made it through those forty years.  They entered Canaan and received God’s gift of the land.  And, because of the wait, the Promised Land seemed even more sweet.

 

Our call is to trust God even in these times of waiting and struggle.  Yes, there are wilderness times in this life.  This “part winter – part spring” will be over soon.  Warmth will cause the leaves and flowers to show the glory of God’s creation.  And, more importantly, someday God will take us from the tears of this world to His home in heaven.  God caused Paul to write about how these wilderness times make heaven even more sweet. 

 

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  (Romans 8:18)

 

Perhaps it is only appropriate that the “wilderness season” of Lent is during this part winter-part spring time of the year.  But, Easter is on the horizon.  Jesus is victorious over our sin, over our pain and trial in this life.  And, in grace, Jesus offers His love to us.  Now we wait.  We wait trusting in the Lord . . . knowing that Easter, and God’s deliverance is coming.

 

A Child of God, Waiting Through The Wilderness Time of Lent for God’s Easter Deliverance,

Pastor Jonathan   

 

P.S.  Kathy’s birthday was March 10.  But, because of schedules, we had a family gathering on March 17.  Here are some pictures from our family celebration of “Mimi Kathy’s” birthday.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ms1UGHaQwaL7CSS89

 

P.P.S. On Monday, March 18, one of my planned companions for ice fishing could not go.  So, I took care of MANY errands and chores around the house I had put off that needed attention.  Maybe fishing next week!

 

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

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