“Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.” Numbers 16:13-14.

The Israelites rebelled against God’s prescribed government and wanted to oust Moses and Aaron from their priestly duties.  They accused Moses of bringing them “up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey” (Egypt) to kill them in the wilderness.  They could not see they were still in the wilderness because of their unbelief in God’s prescribed order.  They believed in God but they did not trust Him. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19.

The same remains true to this day.  Man blames their circumstances on others without accepting the blame themselves.  They do not recognize they remain in the wilderness because of their unbelief.  They believe in Jesus for Salvation but they do not believe in Him for deliverance of their bondage.  This unbelief leaves them wandering around the wilderness completing various rituals and works for deliverance from the dominion of their sin nature with no victory…therefore remaining in the wilderness.  Rebellion arises against God’s prescribed order, faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified for Salvation and victory over sin, without ever realizing they have yet to follow God’s prescribed order.  This rebellion causes them to see milk and honey in their once sinful lifestyle instead of the bondage that entangle them.

While the world is busy creating another God, the church is busy creating another Sacrifice to offer to God for their sins in the form of their works to give them victory over their sin nature. Every fad that comes down the pipe for victory over sin keeps one in the wilderness.  Faith in the only acceptable Sacrifice God will accept, Jesus Christ, His prescribed order for victory over sin is the only way out of the wilderness. However, we must recognize we remain in the wilderness because of our unbelief in Jesus for our deliverance from bondage and repent.  “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17.

-Donna Clark Warren