WHAT DO THESE MEN HAVE IN COMMON?

THEY All SPENT TIME IN THE WILDERNESS!

Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness, leading sheep. (Acts 7:30-32) Then God called him to lead the Israelites. “I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt … to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:8-10)

Because of his military success, David had to flee the jealous wrath of King Saul. David continued to live in desert hideouts and the backcountry wilderness hills since it was plain that Saul was determined to hunt him down. (1 Samuel 23:14) The result? “David, I brought you in from the fields where you took care of sheep, and I made you the leader of my people.” (1 Samuel 7:8-9)

700 years before John the Baptist was born God purposed his life. “Listen! I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.”  So John the Baptizer came and was baptizing people in the desert area. This is what John told the people: “There is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can.” (Mark 1:1-8)

Here’s Paul’s story! “You heard how I violently tried to destroy God’s church. But God was pleased to show me his Son. He did this so that I would tell people who are not Jewish that his Son is the Good News. When this happened, I went to the Arabian Desert.” (Galatians 1:13-17)

At age 12 Jesus knew his purpose. Jesus said to his mother, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49) Nonetheless, before he could begin his Father’s work he had to be assayed in the wilderness.

For purpose-filled development as Father’s child, this must be our perspective while in a wilderness of whatever kind.