Are you wandering around the same mountain of problems over and over again?

Do you feel as if you are stuck in the same menial position year after year?

You were given the opportunity by God to pass through the wilderness to teach you humility and obedience before you possess your destiny.

However, you missed all the tests to lift your banner high and you failed. Now you find yourself stuck in the wilderness. What should you do?

Don’t despair! There is still hope!

Surviving in the wilderness

The Bible states that Israel refused to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief.

They were rebellious and stubborn and doubted God’s protection in spite of being first-hand witnesses to the many miracles of God.

As a result of the Israelites attitude, the Lord declared that they would remain in the wilderness until they die except Joshua and Caleb.

However, God did not forsake them in the wilderness.

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. (Deuteronomy 29:5)

God forbid that you find yourself trapped in the wilderness. But if you do, know that God is with you to protect and keep you.

Get ready, it is time to conquer the land!

After Miriam was healed of leprosy, the people returned to the Wilderness of Paran – the place of order (Numbers 12).

Once again it was time for the Israelites to take possession of the Promised Land so Moses sent twelve spies to check out the land.

When they returned, ten spies had a bad report while two (Caleb and Joshua) had a victorious report. But, the people preferred to believe the negative reports.

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:31)

However, the ten spies insisted they could not conquer the people of the land because they were giants and the Israelites were like grasshoppers in their sight (Numbers 13:31-33).

The entire congregation became discouraged and a rebellious uprising against Moses ensued.

“If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!  Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)

The children of Israel refused to enter the Promised Land.

Whose report will you believe? Will you believe the bad and deceitful report of the enemy?

Can you only see the natural and not the spiritual?

Will you believe the report of the Lord and see the victory in the spirit?

Consequences of Refusing to enter the Promised Land

The glory of the Lord descended upon the tabernacle of meeting to consume the rebellious people but Moses interceded on behalf of them (Numbers 14).

Read: – Are You Ready To Possess The Promise Land?

Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word;  but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— (Numbers 14:20-21)

• The death sentence that the people pronounced upon themselves was returned upon their own head.

Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:  The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.  Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.  But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. (Numbers 14:28-31)

• They were destined to remain in the wilderness for forty years.

According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’” (Numbers 14:34-35)

• Wandering around in circles

When the children of Israel realized their graven mistakes, they tried to force their way into the Promised Land and was severely beaten by the giants.

Continuous rebellion against God will result in stagnation in the wilderness.

If you remain in this state there will be insurrection, fire, earthquake, and plagues (Number 16).

In spite of all these tragedies, there is still hope of restitution through purification and sanctification. This was signified by Aaron’s rod which budded promising new life from the dried withered stick (Numbers 17-20).

Tragedies in the wilderness 

• Desecration of the Word of God resulting in judgment.

• Disunity and selfishness among brethren.

• Death of the priest (Numbers 20)

• Attack by fiery serpents (Satan) (Numbers 21).

• Harlotry and idolatry resulting in plagues (Numbers 25).

• Death of great leaders

Now the Lord said to Moses: “Go up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.  And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered. Moses was taken up into the mountain where God showed him the promised land. He laid hands on Joshua and passed on the mandate to him as the next leader. (Numbers 27:12-22)

Victory in the wilderness

• Deliverance by the bronze serpent, which represents the sacrifice of Christ.

• Springs of water.

From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” (Numbers 21:16)

• A song of praise

 Then Israel sang this song:

• Victory over the enemy (Numbers 21:20)

• Blessed by your enemy.

When God bless you it is impossible for anyone to curse you. The curse will return upon their own heads (Numbers 22:1-6)

• Appointment of leaders with the Spirit of God (Numbers 34-35)

• Appointment of the priestly lineage

• Creation of cities of refuge (Numbers 35)

• Blessings of obedience versus the curses of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28)

The judgment of God was over and it was now time to finally possess the Promised Land.

“The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.  Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain^] in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.  See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.’ (Deuteronomy 1:6-8)

God is faithful and just and it is not His will that any should perish. Therefore, He will continually show you mercy and forgiveness until you surrender your all to His will.

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”’(Deuteronomy 2:7)

But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:20)

It is not God’s will that anyone reaches this low state so seek Him now while you have the capacity to do so.

Over to you!