KEY VERSE:”See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
Because of their disobedience, the nation of Israel was turned back from the edge of their Promised Land and sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years:
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ‘How long will this wicked community grumble against me? … In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. But as for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.’”
— Numbers 14:26-32 (NIV)
When we reflect on this story, the focus is often on those who missed their destiny—those who rebelled, murmured, and ultimately died in the wilderness. But there’s another part of the story: a new generation was being raised in that same wilderness. These young men and women were being prepared by God to step into the destiny their predecessors forfeited.
MESSAGE
- The Desert: Place of Preparation, Not Punishment
In the journey to destiny, desert seasons are inevitable. A desert is any dry, difficult, or confusing time when you feel isolated, uncertain, or abandoned. Sometimes these seasons come as a result of sin and disobedience—as it was for the older generation. But at other times, they are not about punishment—they are about preparation.
The younger generation of Israelites were in the desert not because of their own wrongdoing, but because God was shaping and preparing them to inherit the Promised Land. They were part of a divine process that would lead to victory. - You Are Part of a New Generation
You do not have to align yourself with those who murmur, rebel, and ultimately miss God’s best. You are called to be part of a new generation—a people who trust God, endure the wilderness, and step boldly into their divine destiny.
Yes, you may experience dry places, setbacks, and seasons where the promise seems distant—but you will not die there. You are being prepared for the future. - God Is Doing a New Thing
The Lord says:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
God specializes in creating pathways in the wilderness and rivers in dry places. What seems barren will become fruitful. What feels like a delay is actually divine preparation
CONCLUSION
As we begin this new month, we will explore various desert experiences in the Bible to uncover powerful truths for navigating our own seasons of difficulty. Like the new generation of Israelites, your desert is not your end—it is your training ground for destiny.
You will not die in the wilderness. You will rise, overcome, and fulfill God’s purpose for your life.
PRACTICAL REFLECTION
• Am I stuck dwelling on past disappointments, or am I perceiving the new thing God is doing in my life?
• How is God using my current challenges to prepare me for the future?
• Have I aligned myself with a generation of faith or with those who murmur and retreat?
PRAYER POINTS
- Lord, help me to perceive the new thing You are doing in my life and embrace it with faith.
- Father, strengthen me to endure every desert season and prepare me for my divine assignment.
- Holy Spirit, empower me to separate from negative influences and walk as part of the new generation You are raising.
FURTHER STUDY
• Numbers 14:1-38
• Deuteronomy 1:26-36
• Isaiah 43:16-21
• Joshua 1:1-9