why the desert redux

Proper 14
Deuteronomy 8:1-11

Once again, why the desert? Moses himself answers this question: "To humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna . . . to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Jesus certainly understood this when contending with the devil during his own desert experience.

Despite the deserts through which we journey we can be confident in this: "The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land." It is a place where bread will not be scarce and we will lack nothing.

Already, having journeyed as the people of God from the promised land of Israel to the promise of the gospel, we are closer still to the good land of heaven. In response, let's praise him today with our words and our lives.