WTFMT 79 (from 11 Aug HGM)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-79 TEXT: "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." (Hosea 2:14)

I. DESPAIR

A. Between the wandering and the discoveries there are two key aspects. Before the first discovery can be made in your wandering you will need the first key. The first key to discovery is despair. What a awful key! It is too horrendous and personal to be viewed as a key let alone used as one.

B. But don't worry. You do not have to recognize despair as a key. God without your understanding will still turn the lock on your door of opportunity. Discoveries cannot be realized if you are supplied with 40 heavily laden camels. We have enough food and water, a large and sturdy tent, servants, and gold. All your heart desire you have.

C. Somehow God separates you from your bountiful provisions if indeed you had them in the first place. You then have very little. Please accept this little bottle of water and few loaves (fist size) of bread.

D. This limited provision (strength) is not going to last for many days. It is not suppose to last long. It is designed only for the purpose of getting you deep into the wilderness. You cannot get out on your low provisions and failing strength. Thus you are allured into traveling into the wilderness as our text expresses. Allured into the wilderness, "to speak to her heart." (Greek)

E. We are given enough by our heavenly Father to get us into the wilderness. We go into the wilderness on the strength of the provisions given, following the Lord. (He will be there to meet with us) There in the wilderness our greatest discovery will be the most insignificant in our own eyes. We will discover our own weakness.

F. Entering the wilderness is done with the strength which one already has. There in the wilderness that strength is spent. Then when the one who entered the wilderness comes out she is leaning on her beloved, "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee." (Song 8:5)

G. She exhausted herself. She has spent the provisions and strength which enabled her to journey into the wilderness. This is necessary, this what God wants, and this is His plan. Therefore God cannot send us into the wilderness with a great supply.

H. Some refuse the wilderness as part of their Christian living. They miss that which God had planned for them. They were to come out of the wilderness with additions of great riches. God designed to enrich their lives. I. When the one in Song of Songs went into the wilderness she was not leaning on her beloved, but when she comes out she was. "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? "Leaning on the Beloved" (of invaluable worth) was gained while spending time with God (her Beloved) in the wilderness.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. This picturesque arrangement as far as the will and the desire of God are concerned is absolutely essential!

B. Discovery! Revelation! How wonderful they are. They are so tasty that we consider ourselves as having arrived and eaten the total provisions of God. Actually after despair we have just made the very first and foundational discovery. We are just getting started.