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I. THE NATURAL TRIALS OF THE DESERT.

1. Barrenness. Temporal and material things cannot satisfy spiritual beings.

2. Homelessness. The soul cannot find rest in this wilderness world.

3. Pathlessness. Man, if left .to himself, is bound to stray and lose himself.

4. Perilousness. The wiles of the devil, the seductions of the world, and the lusts of the flesh.

5. Aimlessness. The years pass, opportunities come and go, and so little seems accomplished, so little progress made in our character, so little true work done.

II. THE DIVINE PRESENCE IN THE DESERT.

1. Divine communication in the desert. God's voice is never silent. He is ever speaking in the sounds and silences of nature; through Scripture; and by His Holy Spirit.

2. Divine provision in the desert. "The Lord will give grace and glory; no good will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

3. Divine shelter and rest in the desert (Psalm 90:1).

4. Divine direction in the desert.

(1)  By the leadings of His providence.

(2)  By the teachings of the sacred Scriptures.

(3)  By the influences of the Holy Spirit.

5. Divine protection in the desert. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"

III. THE DIVINE USES OF THE DESERT.

1. That the generation of slaves might pass away. There is much in us that must die and be buried before we can enter upon the inheritance of spiritual perfection. Our craven-hearted fears, our carnal lusts, our miserable unbelief, must be buried in the desert.

2. That a generation of free men might be educated. In the desert we are being trained by God into spiritual perfection and power for service and blessedness.Conclusion:

1. Ponder well the Divine design of our life in this world.

2. By the help of God seek its realisation in ourselves.

(W. Jones.)

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KJV: And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

WEB: Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,