A Night in the Desert
By: Christy C - Updated April 1, 2020
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There is no question about it, we are in unprecedented times for our generation. Before recent events, I challenged you to “find your people,” those that would be an encouragement when life gets hard. Today, we are instructed to practice “social distancing” and “self-isolation..”
Many are struggling to meet their basic needs as store shelves remain empty. People move about their day either gripped with fear and anxiety or carefree and careless. There is great potential for things to get worse before they get better and no guarantee we will ever get back to what we once knew as “normal” life.
To make things more challenging, factor in feelings of depression, isolation, loneliness, and the opportunity for increased abuse behind all of our now closed doors.
Desperation could come easily when the days just keep getting darker and you become more alone with every connection that is severed during this time of self-isolation.
So, here’s a question for you. How many of you have asked where God was in all of this or why he would allow something like this to happen? With that thought in mind, I went back to one of my favorite stories in the Bible: The Exodus.
I’m sure many of us are familiar with Thomas Fuller’s quote, “It’s always darkest before dawn.” As Christians, we cling to the words “joy comes in the morning.” But, are we to read and interpret those literally?
This is where it becomes extremely difficult for me. There is soo much I want to share with you about this, but if I were to share it all, we would no longer have a simple blog post, but a book. So, bare with me as I attempt to give you a condensed version of what I have learned.
Let’s start by looking at the definition of desert.
- To abandon in a way considered disloyal or treacherous (abandon, betray, neglect, turn one’s back on).
- To leave a place causing it to appear empty (neglected, secluded, isolated, desolate, lonely, solitary, godforsaken).
- To fail someone, especially at a crucial moment when needed the most (defect, flee, depart)
- It is also a dry, barren area of land characteristically desolate, without water or vegetation (wasteland, wilderness, barren).
There are some pretty harsh words! Wait, that’s where God led his people after rescuing them from Egypt? Why would He do that??
I know, it doesn’t make sense at first. It didn’t make sense to the Israelites either and they fell into that desperation I was talking about. Their reaction always makes me chuckle; it is dripping with sarcasm, fear, and frustration, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?” (Exodus 14:11) None of us are EVER that melodramatic, right?
Exodus 13:17 says that God didn’t lead them on a straight path to the land He promised, but led them through the desert. He did this because they would have returned to Egypt, a place of slavery and persecution, if they encountered a battle. In other words, their faith wasn’t strong enough to trust God in a battle that He knew was coming. Instead, they would have returned to what they knew (their normal) as soon as the battle started.
So, God led them day and night through the desert, never leaving His place in front of them. He provided everything they needed, including food and water where there was none. God was teaching them to trust Him in the desert.
Take another look at those definitions.
Do you trust God when you’re walking through a desert?
Now, let’s take a look at the word night. The first time the word is mentioned in the Bible is during creation in the first chapter of Genesis. (Gen 1:5), “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night…’
God defined “darkness” as night. How many times do we define trials in our life as “dark days?” Every time we use the word “night” for the remainder of this post, associate it your struggles, your dark days.
Finally, let’s take a look at Joshua 1:8-9, “Keep this Book of Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. “
You may be asking what any of this has to do with the Exodus. Well, here’s where things really get exciting!!
The Israelites were rescued from a place of torture, persecution, and slavery just to be led out into the desert and eventually toward the Red Sea. Remember, it was God who led them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night (so they could travel by day or night), always staying at His place in front of them.
When they arrived at the Red Sea, there was no way to cross it, and the Egyptian army was closing in fast. They started to panic and turned their anger toward Moses (even though it was God who led them).
How often do you turn your anger, fear, or anxiety on those closest to you?
When the people begin to cry out in desperation Moses tries to reassure them. Exodus 14:13-14 says, “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
A couple things I want to point out to you here:
- The word Egyptians represents the trials, persecution, slavery, or whatever crisis you may be facing.
- Moses instructed the people to “Stand Firm” and “Be Still.” Neither of those indicate any type of physical action.
The very next verse says, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”
Wait….What? Are we supposed to stand firm and be still or move on? Which is it?
How many times do you feel lost or confused about what your next move should be?
Just when things couldn’t get any worse, the angel of God and the presence of God withdrew. They were no longer where they had always been, in front leading their people. Now, when you’re getting ready to face a battle, a withdrawal isn’t typically a good thing. It it usually related to a retreat or surrender.
How many times have you felt that God has abandoned you when you needed him the most?
This is my favorite part!! He hasn’t abandoned you anymore than he abandoned the Israelites! Instead, He placed himself between his people and their enemy so He could fight the battle for them. He moved from being their Guide to being their Rear Guard!!
Let’s look at three more verses that all reference night:
- Ex 14:20b
Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
- Ex 14:21 …and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.
- Ex 14:24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.
Remember our word “night” and what it represents? In each of these scriptures, it is God who is taking care of the battle, the Israelites needed only to be obedient. Throughout the “night” it was the Lord that protected His people, it was the Lord that made a way where there was no way, and it was the Lord that defeated the enemy.
The words “last watch of the night” is related to “darkest before dawn,” with the last watch being the hardest one. Did you notice what action was taken during the last watch?
“…the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.”
He didn’t even have to say anything and the enemy of His people began to fall apart!!
You may be asking, “What does all of this have to do with me and what I’m going through? This isn’t a Bible story, this is real life I’m dealing with!”
Well, It has EVERYTHING to do with what you’re going through right now and whatever you may experience in the future!
No matter what you face in life, God is ALWAYS there with you. He may be out front leading you (where you can see and feel him), or He may be protecting you from behind (when you can’t see or hear him) while you do all you can just to keep going, but HE NEVER LEAVES YOU!
When the Isrealites were instructed to “Stand Firm” and “Be Still,” it wasn’t about physical movement. When things get hard, we are supposed to “Stand Firm” in God’s Word and trust Him to fight the battle instead of trying to handle it all on our own (Be Still).
For all of you that have always “handled things” (like me) because you had no one else to rely on, that being still part is one of the hardest things to do. But, I can tell you from experience, when you stop trying to stay in control, you step back and trust Him to work things out instead of only trusting what you can do, He will ALWAYS come through.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to sit back and do nothing. God’s instructions during that time were clear, “Move On.” We’re not supposed to get stuck in fear, panic or desperation. We are to keep moving forward no matter how dark the night seems.
Think about it, the God that created the universe is the same God that only has to LOOK at the enemy to throw them into confusion. That’s the same God that walks beside you each and every day! Trust Him, He’s got this too!
If you’re dealing with anxiety, stress, anger, or confusion during this time of uncertainty, I encourage you to say the following prayer and dig deeper into the Word. The more you learn about God, the more peace you will find in times of trouble.
Thank you, Lord for your love and guidance. Thank you for providing for all of my needs. Lord, help me to know you more and give me peace in the middle of the chaos that surrounds me. Protect me (and my family) against this virus and remove any fear and anxiety it has brought into my life. Help me to remember that it is You that fights my battles and that I don’t have to face them alone. – Amen.