“Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”(Matthew 4:1 – 4:4 MSG)
“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:1 – 8:3 NKJV)
Both Jesus and Moses spoke their words while in the wilderness, into which God had led them. “Wilderness” refers not only to a physical location, but a “lonesome, solitary” place, as well. A place one can go to be alone; to pray, worship, listen, and learn.
A place of preparation. Preparing for life’s situations.
In Moses’ wilderness, The Lord was preparing His people for the Promised Land. They were learning such things as hearing and obeying God, following God’s authority, working together, fighting together, and trusting God to supply everything necessary for life.
He allowed them to hunger in their solitary place, then satisfied their hunger in a way never seen or experienced before. Why? So they could know Him better.
In Jesus’ wilderness, He prepared Himself to face His adversary, the devil. He knew He would need the strength, wisdom, and “right now” Word from His Father to victoriously resist the schemes of the evil one.
To be ready for life, solitary times with God are required. Times to read His Word, hear His voice, and pour out your heart to Him while He pours His heart INTO you. We must have a steady stream of life flowing into us. God’s word, that which He wants to speak to our hearts TODAY, is that very life we need. We’ll find it as we pull aside from our cares and busyness, and get alone with Him and His Word.
“(God’s Word) is life to those who find it…” Proverbs 4:22
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God…” (Psalm 46:4 NKJV)
To help you with your “solitary, wilderness, desert” times, there is a Facebook Page* called “A Steady Stream”. Daily scriptures, devotional teachings, prayers and the like are posted at 6:00 a.m. (CST). You can have this devotional sent to your Facebook account, free of charge, by going to http://www.facebook.com/a-steady-stream/ and hitting the “Like” button.
God bless you.
* effective 4/7/13
2:13 PM
Jan Grace 