That He Might Humble You

“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2

​The Lord led the children of Israel intentionally through the wilderness for forty years because of their rebellion against Him. Their rebellion proved that their attitude towards the Lord was not one of submission, but of pride and fickleness. They, at any moment and what appeared to be for any reason, would turn to worship idols and follow their own way. The Lord, in His supreme love and wisdom, led them into the wilderness to break their stubborn and foolish hearts.   
 
The Israelites were to remember the purpose and significance of the wilderness wanderings. The Lord wanted to humble them and to test them, for their rebellious ways would lead to their destruction. The Israelites truly believed that they were loyal to the Lord and that their actions were justifiable. Their sense of entitlement and disloyalty were confronted on countless occasions and was always met with the Lord’s discipline. After receiving the Lord’s wrath and discipline, it was then that they would repent in anguish.

To humble and test the Israelites, the Lord allowed their enemies to pursue them so that they had nowhere to turn, but to God. The Lord allowed them to hunger and thirst, in which they believed was to the point of death; however, the Lord miraculously and daily supplied all they needed when they needed it. The Israelites did not know the direction they were headed, but had to rely upon a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. While being tested and humbled, they realized that they encountered various challenges that were neither comfortable nor under their control, but in the sole providence of the sovereign one true God.
 
As children of God, we can learn from the lessons of humility and testing that the Israelites experienced. From their wilderness wanderings we learn that a person with a humble heart is a heart that recognizes their complete need for total dependence upon the Lord. It is not a heart that embraces entitlement or selfishness. Humility also embodies gratefulness and constant spiritual examination while using the Scriptures as the standard. While going through life’s difficulties and the temptation to wonder why the Lord has allowed and is allowing you to experience your current season, know that the Lord is always conforming you to the image of Christ because He loves you. Humility and testing will always be the norm for a child of God. Remember that God is humbling you so that you will know and remember that it is He alone who is sovereign and ultimately controls all things and it is He alone who is God.