WTFMT 50 HGM ON 23 JAN 18

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-50 TEXT:
 "And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud." (Exodus 16:10)

I. POINT OF VIEW
A. What we see depends on our point of view. Our point of view is the direction in which we habitually look. The gaze of the Israelites had just been on meat which they desired, but did not have. Only when they looked toward the wilderness did they see the glory of God. The glory of God was not in the meat which they desired.
B. The reason why many of us on different occasions miss seeing the glory of God is that we are looking toward what which we desire. We are viewing Canaan Land when we should be looking toward the wilderness.
C. If the glory of God is appearing in the wilderness, and we are gazing at the Promised Land, we may see the Promised land, but we will not see the glory of God. When the glory of God has come to the wilderness, it is time to give the wilderness our attention. God brings us into the wilderness specifically to see His glory. He wants to bring to our vision His mercy, grace. longsuffering, provisions, purpose, and most of all His love.
D. Although many are brought to the wilderness to see the glory of God, not all see it. The direction of our vision at any particular time in our lives will determine what we shall see. It will also determine what we are not seeing of that which God wants to show us. We shall miss seeing His goodness as we constantly gaze at unfulfilled desires and long for the comforts of the flesh.
E. The wilderness is the place of opportunity. Here, from the Wilderness of Paran, the children of Israel could have moved into greater opportunities. The possibility of taking the Promised Land was theirs. God Himself actually initiated the conquest of Canaan at this time from this place, as seen in: "And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel." (Numbers 13:3)
F. The wilderness may not be seen as a launching pad into an orbit of spiritual reality and living, but the wilderness is that, and more. It is a place of opportunity. A particular opportunity in numbers reads. "And thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them." (Numbers 13:2) These men are going to search and discover. They are moving toward that which God had promised them. In this, many things will be discovered, and revelation will unfold.
G. The Israeli spies are going to discover things which they never though existed in that promised area. What do they discover? They discover the fruits of the land. "And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." (Numbers 13:26-27) This was quite a revelation for these people who left the fertile waters of Egypt.
H. Foundations are necessary for revelation. The more abundant the revelations, and the fuller and richer they are the more the need for greater and stronger foundations.
I. God will often bring us through difficult places simply to establish in us a sufficient foundation and strength for the revelation which He desires to bring to us. Foundations are built by irrevocably trusting God and responding properly to Him in ALL our situations, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
J. 10 of the 12 spies did not have a foundation sufficient enough to support their revelation. Of the two who had faith, one spoke up: "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30) Instead of great faith coming to them from the revelation, they were filled with fear and defeat. "And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Numbers 13:33)

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. The foundation for revelation must be built. Without it God will never be able to put into us certain truths and revelations, and the means of living them. Therefore we must be willing for the undergirding foundation to be built in us. Unwillingness for this particular work of God will cause loss of the riches of God.
B. Come let us go into the wilderness with willing hearts. There we will learn riches, and glean for ourselves unimaginable wealth.