FIERY FAITH

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Corinthians 10:11, KJV).

ABSTRACT

The narrative of Israel’s wilderness sojourn unfolds profound spiritual truths, illustrating how trials forge faith, doubt prolongs journeys, surrender secures triumph, murmuring invites peril, and divine mercy offers redemption through simple trust in Christ. These ancient episodes mirror our own paths, urging obedience, gratitude, and unity as we navigate toward eternal promise under God’s refining love.

DESERT DESPAIR: LOSS AND LESSONS

The journey of Israel through the wilderness is more than ancient history; it is a vibrant reflection of our personal battles with faith, trust, and obedience. In the desolate expanse of Kadesh, a pall of sorrow descended upon Israel with the death of Miriam, their prophetess (Numbers 20:1, KJV). Scripture records, “Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there” (Numbers 20:1, KJV). This loss, followed shortly by Aaron’s passing on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:28, KJV), marked not just the end of lives, but the close of an era for a generation resistant to divine guidance. Ellen G. White poignantly notes, “The trials of life are God’s workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character” (The Desire of Ages, p. 301, 1898). These deaths, significant transitions, should have steered Israel toward profound reliance on God, yet their obduracy persisted, a tragic testament to humanity’s struggle to learn through loss. Indeed, the Lord lamented their hardened hearts, stating, “Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel” (Deuteronomy 32:51, KJV). It is often in affliction that we are meant to learn, as the Psalmist confessed, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” (Psalm 119:67, KJV). She further explains, “God has always tested His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character” (The Great Controversy, p. 47, 1911). Trials purify our faith as scripture affirms, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4, KJV). Afflictions refine us toward holiness, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7, KJV). God brings His people near Him by close, testing trials, by showing them their own weakness and inability, and by teaching them to lean upon Him as their only help and safeguard (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 143, 1881). Afflictions, crosses, temptations, adversity, and our varied trials are God’s workmen to refine us, sanctify us, and fit us for the heavenly garner (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 115, 1875). Do we, in our lives, often face trials and bereavements, only to miss the deeper lesson of God’s refining hand at work?

DOUBT’S DREADFUL DETOURS

God’s divine blueprint for Israel was a direct passage into Canaan, yet their repeated failures of faith rerouted them onto a circuitous path. Edom, a neighboring nation, staunchly refused them passage through their territory (Numbers 20:17-21, KJV). The sacred text states, “Thus saith thy brother Israel, Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: but we will go by the king’s highway, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders” (Numbers 20:17, KJV). This rejection forced Israel to veer towards the Red Sea, a detour born not of divine intention but of human failing. Sr. White elucidates, “It was not His purpose that they should gain the land by warfare, but by strict obedience to His commands” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 392, 1890). The consequence of their unbelief was clearly stated: “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise” (Numbers 14:34, KJV). The prophet Isaiah revealed the root of their problem, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isaiah 30:15, KJV). Sr. White adds, “Again and again they had been brought to the very borders of the Promised Land, and then had shrunk from making an advance. They had forfeited His favor, and their lives were to be wasted in the wilderness” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 401, 1890). Unbelief leads us astray from God’s direct path, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6, KJV). Doubt hinders our progress in faith, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58, KJV). Unbelief is the great hindrance to the bestowment of God’s richest blessings (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 278, 1868). Many a promising movement has been killed by the untimely manifestation of unbelief (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 271, 1909). Consider how often our spiritual journeys mirror Israel’s; divine plans are direct, yet our doubts and hesitations create needless detours, lengthening our sojourn and complicating our path. Faith is not passive; it demands forward motion, and our reluctance transforms simple strides into arduous treks. God’s desire is to guide us straight to our promised land, yet we often resist, allowing fear and unbelief to needlessly extend our trials.

SURRENDER SECURES SUPREME SUCCESS

When Israel finally stood against the king of Arad, divine victory was assured, but only after a pledge of total obedience was made (Numbers 21:1-3, KJV). The record reads, “And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities” (Numbers 21:2, KJV). This moment marked a pivotal shift; unlike prior battles marred by wavering faith, here, Israel committed wholly to the Lord’s command. Sr. White reveals, “Victory is assured when the soul surrenders fully to Christ. It is not our strength but His that overcomes” (Steps to Christ, p. 43, 1892). Indeed, obedience holds greater value than mere ritual, as Samuel declared, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22, KJV). King Jehoshaphat wisely instructed his people, “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20, KJV). Sr. White emphasized the source of true strength, “It is by faith and faith alone that we become workers together with God. Let us cultivate faith. Let us educate ourselves to believe that God is our helper. We want to keep the eye fixed on Jesus, realizing that His grace is our strength” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 510, 1923). Surrender yields victory in God’s power, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13, KJV). Full commitment brings triumph, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5, KJV). The entire being must be surrendered to God, for the Lord Jesus wants to abide in us, purify us, and guide us (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 231, 1889). Self must die; we must acknowledge that of ourselves we can do nothing, and then surrender all to Christ (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 108, 1958). Incomplete faith yields incomplete victories, whether in personal battles or the grander work of gospel proclamation. Reflect deeply: are there areas in our lives where we withhold complete surrender from God’s will, thus hindering the fullness of His promised victories? Are we truly offering every aspect of ourselves to His divine control?

MURMURING’S MALIGNANT MENACE

Despite tasting victory, Israel swiftly relapsed into their habitual sin—murmuring, impatience, and doubt consumed them once more (Numbers 21:4-5, KJV). The poignant text describes their discontent, “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread” (Numbers 21:5, KJV). This ingratitude invited severe consequences as God withdrew His protective hand, unleashing fiery serpents as judgment (Numbers 21:6, KJV). It is written, “And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:6, KJV). Sr. White solemnly declares, “The fatal effects of sin can be removed only by the provision that God has made” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 431, 1890). The apostle Paul directly warned against such behavior, stating, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured,and were destroyed of the destroyer” (1 Corinthians 10:10, KJV). Jude further describes those given to complaining, “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage” (Jude 1:16, KJV). Sr. White explains the underlying issue, “Discontent and rebellion are ever the fruit of unbelief. It is because hearts are not controlled by the word of God that men murmur and complain” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 294, 1890). Murmuring provokes divine displeasure, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14, KJV). Grumbling leads to destruction, “And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD” (Numbers 14:36-37, KJV). Murmuring and complaining is ever the evidence of unbelief in God (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 305, 1868). Murmuring dishonors God and calls in question His wisdom and His right to govern (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 301, 1889). This episode starkly teaches that faithlessness is a magnet for suffering. How often do our complaints overshadow our gratitude, breeding a spirit of discontent? When trials inevitably arise, do we question God’s guidance, or do we perceive these moments as divine tools for refinement? Murmuring blinds us to present blessings, while unwavering faith unveils God’s pathways to deliverance.

SERPENT’S SACRED SYMBOL

In His boundless mercy, God provided a remedy for the serpent plague—the uplifted bronze serpent (Numbers 21:7-9, KJV). The biblical account details, “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9, KJV). This was no magical talisman, but a stark test of faith; those who simply looked in faith lived. Centuries later, Jesus employed this very image to illustrate the path to salvation: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14, KJV). Expanding on this, she elucidates, “So the sinner may look to Christ, and live” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 431, 1890). Indeed, the call to salvation is a call to look and live, as God Himself proclaims, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22, KJV). We are called to fix our gaze on Jesus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, KJV). She further clarifies, “All who would be healed of the serpent’s bite were to look. The looking was the act of faith. It was to look and live. The sight itself had no virtue, but it was to represent Christ, and as they looked with faith to Him, they lived” (The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 381, 1870). Faith in Christ brings eternal life, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47, KJV). Gazing upon the Savior heals the soul, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32, KJV). Faith is the hand by which the soul takes hold upon the divine offers of grace and mercy (The Desire of Ages, p. 175, 1898). By faith we behold Him, and in beholding Him we are changed into His likeness (Gospel Workers, p. 388, 1915). Salvation is not entangled in complex rituals but found in simple, childlike trust. How often do we complicate the beautiful simplicity of salvation, forgetting that all that is asked of us is to look towards Christ and believe in His saving power? Is our faith as simple and direct as looking upon the uplifted serpent?

MERCY’S MIGHTY MANIFESTATION

Reaching Canaan’s border once more, Israel encountered opposition from heathen nations, testing their resolve anew (Numbers 21:10-13, 21-25, 32-35, KJV). Yet, this time, divine favor accompanied them, and victory was granted. History records, “And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof” (Numbers 21:25, KJV). Sr. White illuminates, “When the Lord brought His people a second time to the borders of Canaan, additional evidence of His power was granted” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 434, 1890). God’s mercies are new every morning, demonstrating His unwavering compassion, as Lamentations declares, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV). His faithfulness endures even when ours falters, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13, KJV). Sr. White points to the purpose of these victories, “Through Israel’s victories, He was manifesting His power before them, in order that the surrounding nations might be convinced that this people, whom Jehovah was leading, were under the special care of God” (The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 382, 1870). God grants fresh starts after failure, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12, KJV). He offers renewal, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19, KJV). God gives to His people a second time the evidence of His power and His goodness (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 541, 1875). The Lord is ever ready to pardon and cleanse (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 92, 1901). The very God who had sustained them through the wilderness fought valiantly for them still. This serves as a potent reminder: God’s faithfulness endures even when His people stumble. Do we truly recognize and cherish His boundless mercy when He, in His infinite grace, bestows upon us second chances, and opportunities for renewed beginnings?

LOVE’S LOVING LASHES

God’s love, as demonstrated in Israel’s journey, transcends mere sentimentality; it is a potent, refining fire designed to purify and perfect. The trials and tribulations faced by Israel were not punitive but purificatory. The scripture states, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6, KJV). Sr. White reinforces this divine method, stating, “God permits trials to come, that we may be purified, ennobled, and made fit for heaven” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 471, 1905). His love is not permissive coddling, but a strengthening discipline. Indeed, His love is described as a burning fire that refines and purifies, as Malachi prophesied, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap” (Malachi 3:2, KJV). Furthermore, His love is not distant but intensely personal, desiring intimate fellowship with His people, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love” (John 15:9, KJV). Sr. White eloquently portrays this love, “The love of God is something far broader and deeper than our finite minds can comprehend, and it is this love that finds expression in His dealings with men” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 316, 1889). Divine discipline stems from love, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19, KJV). God’s correction builds us up, “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10, KJV). God leads His people on step by step, conquering and to conquer, in the path of self-denial and sacrifice (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 380, 1911). Trials are God’s appointed means of discipline and His appointed conditions of success (Education, p. 271, 1903). We witness this duality in His willingness to correct Israel’s murmuring with judgment, yet simultaneously providing merciful healing through the bronze serpent. Divine love, therefore, often manifests as purposeful correction, not indulgent allowance. This paradox reveals a love that is deeply invested in our eternal well-being, willing to administer tough love for ultimate spiritual gain.

In light of God’s profound leading throughout Israel’s tumultuous journey, our personal responsibility is to act upon His word with prompt, unwavering obedience. The path of faith is not passive but active, demanding immediate response to divine directives. It is written, “Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee” (Deuteronomy 6:17, KJV). Sr. White warns, “Evil angels are ready to contest every advance step” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 423, 1890). Our devotion should be complete and wholehearted, reflecting the very essence of the first commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, KJV). We are called to walk in His ways and keep His statutes, “To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” (Deuteronomy 10:13, KJV). Sr. White emphasizes the urgency of obedience, “God’s messengers are to stand in their place, acting promptly and decidedly, ever feeling the importance of their work. Delay is dangerous and may result in the loss of souls that might have been won to Christ” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 418, 1901). Obedience demonstrates love for God, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15, KJV). Prompt adherence brings blessing, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25, KJV). Obedience is the fruit of faith (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 513, 1889). Implicit obedience will bring the richest blessings of the Lord (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 161, 1902). Hesitation in the face of God’s call is, in essence, disobedience. Our sacred duty is to step forward in faith, refusing to waver when trials darken our path. Trusting in His overarching plan, we must internalize that genuine faith invariably demands action, not mere contemplation. When divine providence opens a door, our responsibility is to walk through it without the paralyzing grip of fear, embracing the journey with resolute faith.

Israel’s wilderness narrative starkly teaches that internal strife and murmuring breed communal destruction, eroding the very fabric of unity. Discord weakens, while harmony fortifies. The scripture exhorts, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, KJV). Sr. White cautions, “Satan seeks to kindle a spirit of strife or to arouse murmuring or unbelief” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 423, 1890). We are called to love our neighbors, understanding that love is the fulfillment of the law, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10, KJV). Our interactions should always be seasoned with grace and directed towards edification, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6, KJV). Sr. White connects unity with spiritual power, “It is when believers are unitedly connected with Christ that they will be united with one another. Unity among brethren,–this is the strength of the church, and the glory of Christ” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 237, 1904). Moreover, she emphasizes compassionate action, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143, 1905). Harmony among us glorifies God, “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6, KJV). Unity builds the body, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16, KJV). Union of action is essential to success (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 488, 1889). Strife and division weaken the cause of God (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 19, 1881). Therefore, our crucial responsibility to our neighbor is to actively cultivate unity, tirelessly working against division in all its forms. The church, and indeed any community of faith, attains its zenith of strength when faith eclipses fear, and Christlike love triumphs over corrosive complaint. Instead of sowing seeds of doubt and dissension, our calling is to uplift, to encourage, and to edify those around us. Echoing the apostle Paul, we must “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, KJV). In this daily practice of burden-bearing and unity-building, we reflect the very character of Christ, becoming a beacon of light within our sphere of influence.

LEGACY OF LOOKING AND LIVING

The chronicles of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, replete with both failures and triumphs, offer invaluable lessons that resonate deeply into our present day. Their incessant murmuring precipitated suffering and judgment; conversely, their moments of faith unlocked healing and deliverance. The fiery serpent, lifted high, prophetically pointed towards Christ, the ultimate source of healing and salvation for all humanity. Immutable and unwavering, God’s character remains constant through the ages—He continues to call us to unwavering trust, heartfelt obedience, and fearless forward motion. Sr. White wisely reminds us, “The history of the wilderness life of Israel was chronicled for the benefit of the Israel of God till the close of time” (The Signs of the Times, May 26, 1881). Let us heed the divine exhortation, “Therefore let us labour to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:11, KJV), and “be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV). Sr. White leaves us with a final appeal, “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history” (Life Sketches, p. 196, 1915). We learn from Israel’s errors to avoid pitfalls, “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents” (1 Corinthians 10:9, KJV). Their history guides our faith, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:6, KJV). The Lord would have His people learn from the experience of Israel in the wilderness (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 364, 1901). The history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body (Selected Messages, book 2, p. 406, 1958). May we, as inheritors of this rich spiritual legacy, diligently learn from their manifold mistakes, resolutely hold fast to their hard-won victories of faith, and place our complete, unreserved trust in the same unchanging God who faithfully led them through the wilderness, ultimately towards the promised land, and who leads us still today.

PARABLE’S PROFOUND PROMISE

The journey of Israel is a timeless parable, etched in the annals of scripture, providing a mirror to our own spiritual sojourns. Their wilderness was fraught with trials, temptations, and triumphs, reflecting the very landscape of our inner lives as we journey towards our own promised land—the eternal kingdom of God. The deaths of Miriam and Aaron are solemn reminders of life’s transitions and losses, calling us to recognize God’s refining hand in sorrow. The detours imposed by doubt and disobedience highlight the cost of hesitation when divine direction is clear. The victory over Arad underscores the transformative power of complete surrender, revealing that our strength lies not in self-reliance but in divine dependence. The plague of fiery serpents serves as a stark allegory for the deadly consequences of murmuring and faithlessness, while the bronze serpent stands as an eternal emblem of salvation through simple faith in Christ. And the repeated displays of God’s power and mercy, even after failure, offer unwavering hope, demonstrating His enduring love and readiness to grant second chances. Let us, therefore, internalize these profound lessons from Israel’s journey, applying them to the intricate tapestry of our lives. Let faith, not fear, guide our steps; let obedience, not resistance, define our path; and let unwavering trust in God be the compass directing us home.

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