“I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” Isaiah 46:11
In Chapter Thirteen of Numbers, God directed Moses to send twelve tribal leaders to “spy out” the land of Canaan—the land God had promised to the people of Israel.
Forty days later, the twelve returned with samples of the land’s fruit: figs, pomegranates, and a single cluster of grapes so enormous it took two men to carry it strung on a long pole. The men testified to the bounty of the land overflowing with milk, honey, and fruit.
But, they reported, the land was filled with heavily fortified cities. The people were strong and battle-ready; even worse, there were descendants of Anak—giants. Ten of the returning tribal leaders said there was no way the people of Israel could hope to go against the people of Canaan and win. “We can’t do this!”
The other two tribal leaders, Caleb and Joshua, urged the people to trust God, “Don’t fear, the Lord is with us!” (Num. 14:6-11). But the Israelites refused to listen and were ready to stone Caleb, Joshua, Aaron, and Moses until God intervened. Ultimately, Israel’s rebellious disobedience resulted in forty years of wandering in the wilderness, pitching tents, and eating manna.
What about the two men eager to follow God, believing God would accomplish His purpose in bringing Israel into the promised land? Caleb and Joshua were stuck in the wilderness for forty years—forty long years. Forty years of wandering with the disobedient Israelites before Caleb and Joshua could fully live out their calling to lead God’s people into the promised land to conquer the idolatrous people of the land.
God could have allowed Caleb and Joshua to go into Canaan forty years earlier, but they would have no people to lead, no army to command, no resources, nothing. God alone could easily have overtaken and subdued the land, but who would rebuild? Who would harvest crops? Who would repopulate the land? Was God’s will for the lives of Caleb and Joshua thwarted?
Fast forward to the book of 1 Samuel (16:12-13), where Samuel anoints a young shepherd boy, likely no older than 14-15 at most, to become the next king of Israel. In 2 Samual 5:4, we learn that David was 30 years old before becoming king of Judah. During the fifteen-plus years of running and hiding from a jealous and angry King Saul, was God’s will being thwarted?
In the New Testament, Saul (Paul), newly converted through an astonishing encounter with the risen Jesus Christ, Son of God, on the road to Damascus, and called by God to be a “chosen instrument” to carry the Gospel message to the Gentiles, disappeared in Arabia for three years (Gal.1:14-18) before he began his ministry. Was God’s will being thwarted?
From the outside looking in, it seems God’s plan was delayed, stalled, halted—maybe even thwarted.
To thwart means to prevent something from happening, to stop someone from doing what they intend to do.
Man does not, cannot, and never will thwart God.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 ESV
What God purposes to do, He will do. Furthermore, He will accomplish His purpose in His perfect timing.
In the three situations above, God accomplished what He had planned in the time frame He knew best.
Joshua and Caleb grew in faith, knowledge, and wisdom during their forty years in the wilderness. They emerged from the desert better equipped and more spiritually mature to be leaders of God’s people. Even though they were forty years older than when they initially entered the desert, they left the wilderness as wiser, seasoned leaders, battle-ready and experienced in the fight.
David matured physically, mentally, and spiritually during his years on the run from King Saul. His leadership skills grew. God surrounded David with thousands of loyal followers who were willing to follow their leader into battle and even to death. Those years of constantly fearing for his life, honing his skills as a master warrior and commander, and drawing ever closer to God prepared David to become the king Israel needed after Saul’s death.
After three years in Arabia re-examining the tenets of the Law and the Old Testament writings in light of the truth of Jesus Christ, Paul (Saul) grew leaps and bounds in his relationship with Jesus and God the Father and his understanding of Scripture. The Apostle Paul returned equipped to become a power-house Kingdom-builder, effectively ministering to believers and unbelievers, whether Gentile or Jewish.
Paul’s time in Arabia grounded his faith and strengthened him for the many trials, testings, tribulations, and persecutions he would face during his ministry.
“For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27 ESV
If you find yourself feeling set aside or facing a time of spiritual wilderness, do not despair. If God has chosen and called you to a relationship, opportunity to serve, or ministry, but everything seems to be on hold. Don’t panic.
First step: Ask God’s Holy Spirit to guide and inform you as you carefully examine your heart, mind, and spirit to determine if you have unconfessed sin, a spiritually distracting habit, or a spirit of unforgiveness or bitterness lingering within. Confess, repent (turn away from), and surrender wholly to God.
After addressing anything that might prevent you from effectively, whole-heartedly serving and living for God, take the next step.
“[God], who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” 2 Timothy 1:9 ESV
Second step: Pray and ask God if you are in a period of purposeful preparation for whatever God has called you to do next. And, if that is so, pray fervently that God’s Holy Spirit will reveal to you what it is you need to do to be best positioned to accept and participate in whatever or however it is that God wants to teach and grow you during this time of preparation.
Stay in the Word. The Bible tends to be the megaphone the Holy Spirit uses most often to instruct and speak into the hearts of God’s children.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 ESV
If you view these wilderness times—these periods in the desert—as times of preparation and defining of purpose, you will find strength, joy, excitement, and anticipation as God reveals, in His perfect timing, the next step in your journey with Him.
“The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 ESV