As we read the Bible, sometimes a word or phrase will literally
jump out in front of us. We may have read the passage many times,
but this time it takes on new meaning.
Exodus 16:1 speaks of "the wilderness of Sin"--the name of the desert area through which the Israelites wandered and lost their way after leaving Egypt. The name, however, tells us much about the nature of sin. Sin is a wilderness or desert where we become lost. We wander about aimlessly, unable to find a way out.
If you have ever had a bodily infection, you may have noticed that a small drop of the pus can start a new infection on an open area of skin. Sin is like an infection which spreads throughout a mind weakened by worldly values--it causes more sin, emotional problems, and physical illness.
In the days of Moses, leaven represented sin. That is the reason they had to remove all trace of leaven or yeast from their homes before celebrating their Passover Feast. They had to get rid of their sin because they knew that sin, like yeast, explodes to permeate the whole. Jesus said, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1). He was saying how dangerous it is to feel we have it made spiritually because pride blinds us to our sins.
The Apostle Paul warned the youthful Timothy about the danger of a young, inexperienced leader "being lifted up with pride" (I Tim.3:6). Paul knew the danger of feeling important in ministry, and understood how easily a leader can become lost in the 'wilderness of sin.'
When we begin our Christian walk through life's deserts, we tend to err in one of two ways. Either we, like the Pharisees, try to follow the 10 Commandments in a legalistic manner which leads to pride in one's own ability, or else we negate our responsibility to deal with our personal sins because Jesus died to get rid of our sin. Between these two extremes we must find our true position.
The Apostle Paul wrote: "Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means" (Rom.6:15). "Through the law we become conscious of sin" (Rom.3:20). We are to realize we are sinners in need of God's forgiveness, but once forgiven we need not listen to our "accuser" (Rev.12:10) who continues to make us feel guilty. Having repented, we can "come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need" (Heb.4:16 LB).
Cults and false religions insist we are saved by living a good life. Because they don't understand about the saving blood of Jesus Christ which was shed that we might come directly into God's presence and be set free from the guilt of failure to keep the law, they cannot experience the joy of Christianity. Christians should be happy people because we have been set free "from the law of sin and death" (Rom.8:2). We can live as free men, but we must not use our freedom as a cover-up for evil (I Pet.2:16).
Let us, therefore, not remain in our "wilderness of Sin", but let us hurry over to the Promised Land where Christians find joy, even in the dusty deserts of life!
© 1999, Doreen Palmer