40 Days in the Desert With Jesus
The liturgy for the Ash Wednesday Service invites us to “observe a most holy Lent”. We are asked to do this through self-examination, repentance, fasting, self-denial, and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word. One passage of Scripture often used during Lent is Matthew 4:1-11 – The temptation of Jesus.
After being baptized, Jesus is immediately sent by God into the desert. Jesus fasts and prays for 40 days. Matthew says that Jesus is then tempted by Satan. Luke says that Jesus was tempted the whole 40 days. Either way, Jesus withstood the temptations.
The Gospel story of Jesus in the desert reminds us of the Old Testament story of the Israelites 40 year journey in the wilderness. Much of what is said concerning their wilderness wanderings is usually very negative and condemning. You have probably heard them: “It took them 40 years to make an 11 day journey”, or, “If they had just followed God things would have turned out a lot better”. Well, we have the advantage (or disadvantage) of looking back and analyzing what other people did or did not do. But here is the question: Are we doing any better?
The Israelites had cried out to God for their deliverance. God set them free. Suddenly they had to make decisions and choices for themselves. Their basic needs were no longer given to them. They had to follow a new leader and a new set of rules. The religions of the people around them were enticing. And when things got tough or did not work out the way they wanted – they grumbled against God and wanted to kill Moses. Even in the midst of some very great miracles, they had a difficult time trusting God and understanding that he had their best interest in mind. It was hard to experience “deliverance” in the midst of continual difficulties.
The two great temptations of the Israelites were 1) to stop their journey and settle where they were (compromise) or 2) to give up the journey completely and go back to where they came from (idolatry). If they stopped where they were, they would settle for less than God’s best. If they gave up and went back to Egypt, they would be returning to a land that had been destroyed (remember the 10 plagues). What they would be returning to would be only a memory. The great lesson for us is that we should never stop journeying with God and we can never go back because the past no longer exists – it is only a memory.
The Israelites faced many other temptations along the way. We do too. Jesus faced them and overcame them. He can help us send the devil fleeing too. God has sent us on a journey. It might not be in a wilderness or desert setting. However, we may face many of the same difficulties, temptations, and discouragements. The Israelites grew and matured as individuals and as a group while journeying in the wilderness. So can we. But we must be moving ahead. Without movement there is no journey.
There are two primary aspects to our journey; the physical journey and the spiritual journey. God may set us on a physical journey in which we experience new and different things and learn what we could not learn otherwise. But our spiritual journey is the most important. Whether we stay in one place or move around a lot, we must continue to spiritually walk with God. We must not stop and settle down, get comfortable, and become content with less than God’s best.
During this season of Lent, let’s remember these two great stories; the Israelites 40 year journey through the wilderness and Jesus’ 40 day experience in the desert. Without God, the Israelite would have never left the wilderness. Without God, we won’t either. Sure, Jesus sent the devil running. He was God’s Son. But we can do the same if we have God’s Son living in our heart and life.
Repent and believe the gospel,
continue on your journey with God,
and never give up!
Pastor Carl
