Daily Thoughts from Deuteronomy 1:3-8: Wilderness (Yeshimon)

1. Wilderness (Yeshimon)

These are the words Moshe spoke to all Isra’el on the far side of the Yarden River, in the desert, in the ‘Aravah, across from Suf, between Pa’ran and Tofel, Lavan, Hatzerot and Di-Zahav.  It is eleven days’ journey from Horev to Kadesh-Barnea by way of Mount Se‘ir.

On the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, Moshe spoke to the people of Isra’el, reviewing everything Yahweh had ordered him to tell them.  This was after he had defeated Sichon, king of the Emori, who lived in Heshbon, and ‘Og, king of Bashan, who lived in ‘Ashtarot, at Edre‘i.  There, beyond the Yarden, in the land of Mo’av, Moshe took it upon himself to expound this Torah and said:

 “Yahweh spoke to us in Horev. He said, ‘You have lived long enough by this mountain.  Turn, get moving and go to the hill-country of the Emori and all the places near there in the ‘Aravah, the hill-country, the Sh’felah, the Negev and by the seashore — the land of the Kena‘ani, and the L’vanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates River.  I have set the land before you! Go in, and take possession of the land Yahweh swore to give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, and their descendants after them.’

(D’varim 1:3-8)

The desert.  It felt foreboding, unsafe.  He was grateful it was during the cool and rainy part of the year.  He had his cloak and even an extra wrap for the cooler nights, and John assured him that a fire cylinder and fireboard were tucked away in his cave for making fires as needed.  He would only have to gather some brush for fuel.  There was even a small cistern John had made to trap what little runoff there was from the infrequent rains.

Still, it was yeshimon, the midbar Yehuda, the most arid place in Yisrael and the haunt of demons and wreckless men.  He knew he was supposed to be here.  Of that there was no doubt.  His baptism was extraordinary confirmation that he was to be the one who fulfilled Yisrael’s history in his own story, and as Yisrael went through the desert to get to the land promised by Yahweh, so must he.  He had even lived for a short time in Egypt, a striking parallel to his people.

But even that meant that he was to experience testing in this barren place just as they did.  Yisrael was tested here and experienced much failure.  He must succeed.  The desert was not an easy place to be.  And he was fasting.

He felt inside his bag just to confirm the scroll was there.  There was nothing more precious in his bag than this.  It had cost several days wages but that wasn’t what made it most valuable.  “Eleh had’varim esher diber Moshe el cal Yisrael.”  His own copy of HaD’varim.  He was grateful beyond words to have it.  It would be his guide on this lonely path.  His Father would speak to him through it and he would be a ready listener.

He noticed up ahead a break in the escarpment.  That must be John’s cave.  As he climbed up, the soil and rocks were loose beneath his feet, making climbing labored.  But as he stepped inside he felt relieved that this place was available to him.  He had stayed in less hospitable locations before.  Even now the heat of the sun was diminished by the shade.  A pallet lay rolled up to one side and a jar of water was already drawn.  Had John known he would end up here before he offered it?

He could not help but smile as he thought of his cousin spending many days here.  No one could say that John sought privilege or prosperity.  His mission was clear and many had heard his cry to prepare for God’s coming kingdom.  Did they expect such a prophet as he was?  Regardless, they had received his baptism and pledged their loyalty to the King.  Anticipation was heightened.  The rough places were being made smooth.

He sat and unrolled the scroll to Moshe’s opening words.  It was about the desert.  And it was about preparing to leave the desert for the promised land.  It was time for Yisrael to abandon Horeb and find rest in Cana’an.  The torah given at Horeb must be fulfilled.  God’s will must be done on earth as it was in heaven.  All the religious and political sects of his land were not successful in preparing his people for the kingdom.  They did not understand the intent of the Law of Moshe and they certainly did not understand that they could not be in league with the world.

Yahweh was saying through Moshe that it was time to go in and take possession of the land and experience God’s rule once again.  The Romans were not the face of God’s kingdom but neither were the Pharisees or Sadducees.  They must recognize that he was God’s messenger calling them to repentance and to a true view of God’s requirements.  But the Scriptures were full of indications that he would be rejected in his offer of the kingdom.

First things first, however.  Wilderness, then promised land.