Wilderness

by Erik Olson

A few weeks ago in our “56ers” class (5th and 6th graders Wednesday evenings), we talked about Moses parting the Red Sea and escaping the pharaoh. After they had escaped they began wandering around the wilderness. We discussed what that wilderness could have looked like and its environment.

Setting out into the wilderness is a frequent biblical theme. For ancient people, the wilderness represented danger. Many were called to travel into the wilderness. God often used the wilderness to refine and transform God’s people. In the wilderness, everything was stripped away, and God would begin to work. After being led by Moses across the parted Red Sea, the Israelites traversed the wilderness for 40 years. Wilderness life was difficult enough that they missed the security of the oppressed life they had left behind. When everything else was gone, the Israelites were forced to rely on God.

After talking about what Moses and the Israelites went through, we envisioned what that type of wilderness would look like to us today. It took a few students to grasp the idea that we weren’t talking about the outdoors anymore, but once the first couple got there everyone followed along. They brought up things such as “going through this pandemic,” “starting at a new school,” “going through a rough patch with friends,” “struggling with school” and many more. What is a wilderness you might have gone through recently, or are currently going through?

Now think about that wilderness experience and understand that no matter how it felt you were never going through that alone. God never once left your side in the wilderness and never will leave our side as we are traveling through a wilderness. We may have struggled or been hurt, but we will be delivered through any and all wildernesses and come out better and stronger on the other side.

In peace,

Erik Carlson
Student Life Coach

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