In the Desert

Recently, I’ve been reading about Moses leading the Israelites out their oppression in Egypt and into the Promised Land. One thing I had never realized before, is that Egypt and the Promised Land weren’t super far away. Instead of the journey taking the eleven days it could have, it ended up taking forty years. Was Moses lost, or afraid to ask for directions from locals? Of course not. Did people keep asking to stop at a bathroom, or to get a snack? Maybe, but not enough to cause this kind of delay. Was God using their time on pilgrimage as an opportunity to purify them? You bet.

The transition from being a heavily oppressed group in Egypt to being the ruling power of “a land flowing with milk and honey” in less than two weeks would have been too abrupt for the Israelites. The shock of suddenly having so much freedom can be overwhelming and destructive, like giving a preschooler complete control over his Halloween candy or letting a toddler decide her own bedtime.  I mean, even when the change was spread out over four decades, the Israelites still somersaulted back and forth between confessing a true dependence on their Heavenly Father, and an utter betrayal of that relationship by worshiping pagan gods and trying to survive on their own. They needed the time in the desert to grow. They needed formation.

In the realm of education, there’s a lot of emphasis on the idea of “scaffolding” learning, meaning teachers (including parents, religious leaders, and other mentor figures) introduce concepts slowly with lots of support. As students become familiar with the idea, teachers can slowly step back so students have a chance to broaden their understandings and use the information more independently. 

God “scaffolds” for His chosen people while they are in the desert by giving them laws and guidance on how to worship him. He tells them when to celebrate by marking certain times for festivals (Leviticus 23), how to worship Him by making offerings and setting up His dwelling place (Exodus 35-40), how they should handle wrongdoing in their communities (e.g. Leviticus 20), etc. He even sets up ways for them to remember their God, such as wearing tassels on the corners of their clothes (Numbers 15:37-41) or keeping the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8-11). Knowing that it would be incredibly difficult for His people, God also provides ways for them to restore the relationship when they inevitably fall short (e.g. Leviticus 4-7). His rules are a source of guidance on how to live holy lives and protection from themselves. 

If they were to have the strength to live as God’s people, they needed to spend some time growing closer to Him, allowing Him to form them into a group strong enough to endure hundreds of years of opposition but still be faithful. After all, these people are Jesus’s ancestors. The decisions of individuals ended up being part of the plan to save mankind from its sin.

God doesn’t “make rules” as a weird kind of power move, or to make living a Christian life harder for His people, but to protect them from themselves and provide guidance on how to live holy lives as a good parent would. He does the same today for anyone who chooses to become one of His people by giving us natural times and places of formation in our lives. 

Many of the Old Testament practices are no longer in place because Jesus served as the ultimate sacrifice; however, the Church today still has guidelines for Catholics to help us live like saints in the making. Going to Mass at least once a week, praying regularly, celebrating feast days, studying the Bible and Church teachings, or surrounding yourself with others who prioritize growing in relationship with God are all ways that our own “time in the desert” or earthly pilgrimage can be a time of growth. Do you like to be told when to pray? Try Liturgy of the Hours. Want to build in quiet time for reflection? Go to Adoration or have a Holy Hour. Need examples of how to live? Look to the Saints and the Holy Family. 

The setting of guidelines for oneself can also help with spiritual growth, plus the added bonus of growing in virtue. For example, I found that if I spread my “prayer routine” throughout the day, it is noticeably more fruitful than if I keep pushing it all off until bedtime when I’m usually more rushed and already falling asleep. Getting regular exercise makes me less irritable, and therefore more patient with the people around me. Always putting away distractions when I am with other people (including my siblings and parents) makes it easier to maintain loving relationships with them. Believe me, I am far from the perfect Catholic, but I know that by continually trying to improve, I eventually will. 

No matter who you are, or what your spiritual life looks like, I encourage you to perpetually keep building a life (little by little) that glorifies God and draws you closer to His Kingdom. Everything of this world will eventually fall prey to destruction and oblivion, but our lifetimes on Earth cannot even begin to compare to an eternity of perfect love and joy with the Father.