Deuteronomy 2:1-7 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spoke to me… I. A FACT GENERAL. He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness. Wilderness and a complete barrenness are not synonymous in Scripture. There were palms of Elim, and wells of Marah, and beautiful withdrawn places where the grass grew; and yet it was a wilderness great and often terrible. After all, like such a wilderness is life. It is not all a wilderness. There are pleasant places in it, and homes, and loving hearts. This is the fact general — that the usual human life has a good deal of wilderness in it. Life is a wilderness because — 1. Of its mystery. 2. Of its discipline. 3. Of its unreached ideals. 4. Of its transitoriness. 5. Of its enemies — Egyptians, Amalekites, Midianites, Edomites, Moabites, Amorites throng against it. II. A FACT PERSONAL. He knoweth THY walking through this great wilderness. The personal fact is that you must thread your way through this strange, great wilderness of a life. Nobody can tread the path for you. The decisions of it you must make. The results of your decisions you must abide. III. THE GIRDING COMFORT FOR US. He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness. 1. He knoweth sympathisingly. It is such meaning God's knowing always carries in the Scripture. 2. He knoweth in detail. Thy walking; precious truth this of the Divine omniscience of us. 3. He knoweth, taking account of thy weakness. How tender God was toward these Israelites! 4. He knoweth, wisely providing. Think how all the various discipline of the wilderness wandering issued in the change of the Israelites from a mob to a nation. IV. WHAT THEN? 1. I can walk the way. 2. I shall not be lost. 3. I shall reach Canaan. 4. I have comfort for the journey. (W. Hoyt.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. |
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