I've been thinking a lot lately about the wilderness. The wilderness exists multiple times in the Bible, but we always associate it with Moses and the Israelites. This is the biggest wilderness, it seems: forty years of wilderness and wandering. Forty long years.
I can't really blame the Israelites for grumbling. At least in Egypt they knew who they were: they were slaves, and they had a job to do. It sucked, and the Egyptians weren't easy on them, but they knew who and what they were and didn't lose their God-given identity as the people of God.
And on the other side, they had the Promised Land where they lived out their identity for centuries. They knew who they were and that God was on their side. They knew that God would protect them and searched out God when they felt alone. They knew where they strength lay. David's psalms reveal that quite plainly. Today we often look back at the psalms to find the words when we can't form them ourselves. We use them the words of Israel to guide us through our painful times, our joyful times, and to guide our times of worship. The community of Israel formed our own views of God, and continues to help us day after day.
It was when they were in the desert that they grumbled continuously. God had to show them mystical signs for them to believe: manna on the ground, a pillar of fire, a parting of the sea. Repeatedly, they doubted. They searched for other gods. They sought out idols. They did things they probably wouldn't normally do.
They were lost, physically and spiritually, in the wilderness.
And yet, somehow, they eventually did get to the Promised Land. They eventually crossed over and lived out their lives. But not before a generation died out. They just had to get through the wilderness, learn from their experiences, and at some point, realize that God was enough.
And I wonder sometimes if the Israelites that didn't make the journey had a discussion with God at some point and asked why they weren't able to complete the journey. Still sitting in the presence of God and doubting, questioning... continuing to grumble.
I wonder about this because we all grumble. We all go through times when we are lost in the wilderness, too. Where we wonder what our identity is. We wonder what our purpose is. If we are in the desert, what are we supposed to do? So we search. We try to find other gods. We make up ways to fulfill our desires. Melt down parts of ourselves and create idols.
Why is it so hard to just rest in our identity in God, as a child of God, the Beloved of God? Why do we continue to doubt? Why do we try to store up the manna that is provided? Where is our faith that God is not good enough when we're lost?
Even when everything seems like we're lost, we still have an identity in God.
We may have no other identity. We may be a nationless people, wandering aimlessly. We may not have a home, a family, our creature comforts... we might not have much of anything. But God is everywhere. We cannot wander where God is not.
God is wherever you are. God is before you, behind, and alongside. Above, below. All encompassing.
And you are a child of God. I am a child of God.
We get lost, but God is there.
God is here.
We always have at least that identity.
I can't really blame the Israelites for grumbling. At least in Egypt they knew who they were: they were slaves, and they had a job to do. It sucked, and the Egyptians weren't easy on them, but they knew who and what they were and didn't lose their God-given identity as the people of God.
And on the other side, they had the Promised Land where they lived out their identity for centuries. They knew who they were and that God was on their side. They knew that God would protect them and searched out God when they felt alone. They knew where they strength lay. David's psalms reveal that quite plainly. Today we often look back at the psalms to find the words when we can't form them ourselves. We use them the words of Israel to guide us through our painful times, our joyful times, and to guide our times of worship. The community of Israel formed our own views of God, and continues to help us day after day.
It was when they were in the desert that they grumbled continuously. God had to show them mystical signs for them to believe: manna on the ground, a pillar of fire, a parting of the sea. Repeatedly, they doubted. They searched for other gods. They sought out idols. They did things they probably wouldn't normally do.
They were lost, physically and spiritually, in the wilderness.
And yet, somehow, they eventually did get to the Promised Land. They eventually crossed over and lived out their lives. But not before a generation died out. They just had to get through the wilderness, learn from their experiences, and at some point, realize that God was enough.
And I wonder sometimes if the Israelites that didn't make the journey had a discussion with God at some point and asked why they weren't able to complete the journey. Still sitting in the presence of God and doubting, questioning... continuing to grumble.
I wonder about this because we all grumble. We all go through times when we are lost in the wilderness, too. Where we wonder what our identity is. We wonder what our purpose is. If we are in the desert, what are we supposed to do? So we search. We try to find other gods. We make up ways to fulfill our desires. Melt down parts of ourselves and create idols.
Why is it so hard to just rest in our identity in God, as a child of God, the Beloved of God? Why do we continue to doubt? Why do we try to store up the manna that is provided? Where is our faith that God is not good enough when we're lost?
Even when everything seems like we're lost, we still have an identity in God.
We may have no other identity. We may be a nationless people, wandering aimlessly. We may not have a home, a family, our creature comforts... we might not have much of anything. But God is everywhere. We cannot wander where God is not.
God is wherever you are. God is before you, behind, and alongside. Above, below. All encompassing.
And you are a child of God. I am a child of God.
We get lost, but God is there.
God is here.
We always have at least that identity.
