James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT(A)
Tough times affords us the opportunity of developing strength of character. Oftentimes, we don't learn certain things when things are going fine. The wilderness season of life is for the purpose of of developing quality character that will sustain us through life.
The writer of Hebrew says that Jesus learnt obedience through the things he suffered(Hebrew5:8). The Israelites had cultivated the habit of murmuring because that was the norm in Egypt. Also, there are certain things they may have picked up while in Egypt which God saw as anti Canaan.
God in His sovereignty knew that it would be impossible to enter the promised land and sustain the victory without quality strength of character. That was one of the reasons he permitted them to pass through the wilderness.
Let's look at the life of Joseph. He appeared to me as a pampered kid. His father didn't sew coat of many colours for Benjamin the last born, why him? I think he was the favourite of his father. One thing that is common to over pampered children is that they are spoilt.
God knew the plan he had for Joseph and the character requirement needed, so he led him through the wilderness of hatred and betrayal by his brothers, took some courses in slavery where he learnt servanthood and he took a borrowed course in prison 101 where he learnt patience and forgiveness. When he satisfied the requirements, he was released into destiny.
All of these took 13 years. God knew about all Joseph went through, in fact he sponsored Him into the wilderness and supervised his wilderness education(Psalm105:19).
Don't expect to quit the school of wilderness until God build in you the character required by heaven for your desired promised land. Cooperate with God, don't exit this school through the back door.
Getting to the top is not a big deal with God but sustaining it is the issue. God is not happy with many sons that have messed the top. He is looking for men that will stay at the top doing things right. If the Israelites had entered the promised land in a hurry, they will mess it up.
The wilderness revealed their impatience and weakness. Painfully, they didn't submit themselves to God for pruning and purging. Don't make the same mistake they made.
You need to open yourself to God and say: Father, purge me of everything that doesn't give you glory so that I can enter into my season of glory and destiny fulfillment.
Father, I want to be more like Christ in character In Jesus name.