"He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord" (Deut. 8:3, NASB).
When tempted to utilize His Divine nature to turn stones to bread during His wilderness fast, Jesus fought Satan away by quoting this verse (Matt. 4:4).
But, what does it mean?
God led Israel into their suffering in the wilderness.
God likewise led Jesus into His suffering in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1).
It is only through suffering that Jesus’ humanity learned obedience (Heb. 5:8-9).
We must conclude there are things that can only be learned in the wilderness of suffering. To truly rely on God, to trust God, cannot be learned in comfort, only in suffering.
It is not that it could be learned in comfort, but we choose not to learn it.
It is not that everyone will learn once they are led to the wilderness.
It is that, if it is to be learned, by anyone at all, it will most often be there.
It is our highest calling to remain eager to learn – willing to hear the voice of God, rather than turn from it – in the harshness of the wilderness.
By this, and this alone, shall we live.
Then, we thank God for the wilderness.
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