A different kind of wilderness
Life is full of surprises…and seasons…and sometimes they both hit at the same time.
One of my least favorite seasons is early summer. I love the warmer weather, the bright green leaves filling the trees in my neighborhood, and the sound of birds chirping. But there’s one part I REALLY don’t love: hailstorms… and tornadoes.
Tornadoes are rare where I live. Hailstorms are not.
The worst part? You never know exactly when they’re coming. I’ve seen storms appear out of nowhere. At lunch the sky can be clear and blue with barely a cloud in sight. My weather app might say 30% chance of rain — which usually just means it’s wrong 70% of the time.
Then suddenly the clouds roll in. The air shifts. A cool breeze turns violent. Trees begin to sway as the wind hits like a freight train.
Panic sets in.
Can I get my car into the garage? (It’s usually blocked by weight equipment since it doubles as my gym.)
Should I try to cover my truck?
I really don’t want to pay a deductible for hail damage — especially not on my roof.
Life seasons can feel like that — sudden, turbulent, and relentless.
Spiritual seasons can too.
Maybe you’re in one right now.
Maybe you’ve been there longer than you wanted.
Maybe you’re praying desperately for breakthrough while watching clouds gather again on the horizon.
Time to brace myself… again.
Scripture is full of dramatic seasonal shifts. Consider Jacob.
Under Jacob (Israel), God blessed his family. Pharaoh promised them favor, saying, “I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.” Genesis 45:18 Scripture records that “...the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt were seventy in all.” Genesis 46:27
It seemed too good to be true.
And for a time, it wasn’t.
But seasons change.
A new pharaoh rose to power and “appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor.” Exodus 1:11
Like a sudden storm, everything shifted. Prosperity turned to oppression.
Then Moses entered the story. Through miraculous intervention, God delivered Israel from captivity. After crossing the Red Sea, there were moments of great celebration and newfound freedom.
Wouldn’t it be great if the story ended there?
But between Egypt and the Promised Land was a wilderness.
And yet, even there, God showed extraordinary grace.
There were miracles. Supernatural provision. And most remarkably, God even chose to dwell among them! He instructed them to build the Tabernacle so His presence would remain at the center of their camp.
They weren’t in the wilderness alone! God Himself was leading them…a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.
In the book of Numbers, there’s a powerful detail often overlooked. One that speaks directly to pastors and leaders.
God made a clear distinction between the Levites and the other eleven tribes. The Levites camped closest to the Tabernacle, closest to God’s presence. They alone entered the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices, and they were devoted to ministering to the Lord.
Even in the wilderness, they experienced something different from the rest of Israel.
During those forty years, manna and quail sustained Israel. They likely supplemented with dairy from their livestock. Yet the people complained about the lack of variety, longing for the fish and produce of Egypt.
Interestingly, Scripture never records the Levites complaining.
Why?
Because although they were in the same wilderness, they experienced a different kind of wilderness.
While the eleven tribes were complaining…the Levites were feasting!
Israel brought bulls, goats, lambs, doves, oil, wine, grain, all of their firstfruits and offerings to the Levites. I can imagine the priests were trying so hard not to smile as the dusty, frustrated, grumbling congregation (not at all like your congregation I’m sure) brought their offerings and they knew a tomahawk steak was on the menu that night!
“Then the Lord said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.” Numbers 18:8
“I give you all the freshest oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the Lord as their firstfruits. The firstfruits of everything in their land that they bring to the Lord will belong to you. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat them.” Numbers 18:12-13
But that wasn’t even the greatest gift.
God said, “...You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.” Numbers 18:20
There is a special blessing for those devoted to Him.
Steak dinners are wonderful. But nothing compares to God declaring, “I am your portion.”
You get all of Me.
Just as you savor every bite of a great meal, God says, I am better. Taste and see that the Lord is good. I will satisfy you in ways food, wine, treasure, or people never can. I am your inheritance. Past, present, and future. A spiritual inheritance no one can build, earn, or steal.
Whether you’ve led a church for decades, serve bi-vocationally, or carry leadership quietly behind the scenes — God sees you.
He sees your devotion.
He sees your struggle.
He hears your prayers.
And even in the wilderness, or the one that may be ahead, His invitation is the same:
Draw close.
Camp beside Him.
Follow His lead.
Let Him feed you with spiritual nourishment that far surpasses even a tomahawk steak. (Or a black bean burger if you’re vegan.)
You are storing up treasure in heaven!
You have an inheritance beyond comprehension!
And most importantly, the God of the universe declares: I AM YOURS.
No matter how long the wilderness lasts or how harsh it feels, devoted ministers and leaders can experience a different kind of wilderness. One marked not by scarcity, but by proximity… not by complaint, but by communion… not by survival, but by satisfaction in the Presence of God.
Remember, peace is still found in the storm.
