The visit of a family member often gives space and opportunity for reflection. The question typically driving the conversation is: What has happened in your life since the last time we saw one another? There is one of two directions this conversation might go.

The testing of Israel in the wilderness continues as they camp at Rephidim and find no water. They grumble and complain to Moses, putting Yahweh to the test, showing their lack of faith. Jesus the true Israel, in wilderness testing of his own, submits himself to the will of the Father. 

The wilderness. The desert. A hostile, dangerous and uncomfortable place. It is a surprising place to find the people God has rescued from slavery with the promise and hope of a new life. But that’s where we are. Let’s consider how God sustains us in our wilderness experience.

The Lord leads Israel out of Egypt….and into a dead end. It looks like a mistake that will result in their destruction. But it is really God’s design to get glory over Pharaoh by delivering his people in the most impossible and unexpected way.  The Red Sea miracle foreshadows the greater salvation of God’s people to come in Jesus. Through Moses, God saved his people from physical slavery in Egypt. Through Jesus, God saves his people from spiritual slavery to sin and death. God gets glory by saving his people.

Salvation is not something that we have earned or can receive on our own, but rather on our own, we have earned separation from God because like the Pharaoh we have set ourselves up as our own god or gods, like the people of Egypt and the Israelites people we seek to satisfy ourselves, control our destiny, and self-preservation. On our own, we are not Holy, and God demands nothing less than the perfect holiness of Himself. Salvation comes through substitution.