(Part 4) The Rest is *Salvation* History

The Bible in a Year Reflections Part 4- The Desert Wanderings Period

This is Part 4 of a series of articles that give the reader some takeaways and further insight from the various periods of Salvation History that are featured on the Bible in a Year Podcast. For an introduction to the series and an overview of the Early World period, click here:

Today, we will begin the Desert Wanderings period. For most readers, this is where the Old Testament tends to become more obscure and mysterious. If you’re like the millions of readers who tried to just read the Bible from the front to the back, then you probably quit halfway through Leviticus. Thankfully, I got you covered with a good overview of the the period, utilizing the Ascension app’s “Introduction to the Desert Wanderings Period” as the framework to cover the major themes of exploration for this period. It will not have a primary focus on the narrative events unless they are related to those themes.

Periodic Overview

The fourth period in Salvation History, “The Desert Wanderings”, covers the 40 year punishment of Israel following their disobedience when they were instructed to enter the Promised Land (for the first time). This results in Israel, if they were willing, to learn a great spiritual lesson in the desert, relying on God’s mercy, love, and providence. This ultimately set the hearts of the Israelites on God before entering a pagan territory. The goal was to prevent them from further sinning, but- well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You’ll see in the period of “The Judges”. . . For now, we will enter the desert with Israel.

Major Figures

God (obviously), Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Aaron, Miriam

Themes

Deuteronomy, The Nazirite Vow and the Priestly Blessing, The Seventy, The Bronze Serpent, Desert Wandering as Foreshadowing

Deuteronomy

The Book of Deuteronomy is the final instructions of Moses to Israel before the entrance into the Promised Land. This is book is significant because it is the conclusion of the Torah, or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. In it, Moses recounts the history of Israel’s Exodus and instructs the Israelites on how to remain close to God’s law when they enter the pagan territory of Canaan, the Promised Land.

This is a repeated theme throughout Israel’s time with Moses as their leader. They are being set apart for a specific purpose, the worship of God. The Israelites are called out of Egypt so that they may worship God. Israel is given the Promised Land because it is a location that will provide for their physical needs so that they can worship God. Israel is given the 10 Commandments and the rest of the Law so that they can properly conduct themselves and offer sacrifice in worship of God. It would make sense that Moses’s final instruction to the nation would center around the theme of a monotheistic worship of God!

Israel has the pieces in place to enter the Land of Canaan on the right foot. Their new leader, Joshua, was one of two men that trusted in God to give Israel victory in the conquest of the Promised Land. All that the people need to do is focus on their personal holiness, and they will stay in right relationship with God. Therefore, Deuteronomy is less of an instruction to Israel’s leader, and it’s more of a call to repentance and holiness to the entirety of the people.

The Nazarite Vow and the Priestly Blessing

The Book of Numbers introduces something new to the spiritual life of Israel- the Nazarite Vow. For modern Christian readers, this was a vow that is similar to someone taking a long retreat. There’s an extended period of time where prayer and relationship with God is one’s sole focus; however, there are external characteristics that are unique to the vow.

1.) No “strong drinks”- “they shall abstain from wine and strong drink they may neither drink wine vinegar, other vinegar, or any kind of grape juice, nor eat either fresh or dried grapes” (Numbers 6:3)

2.) No cutting your hair- “While they are under the nazarite vow, no razor shall touch their hair. Until the period of their dedication to the LORD is over, they shall be holy, letting the hair of their heads grow freely” (6:5)

3.) No touching a dead body- “As long as they are dedicated to the LORD, they shall not come near a dead person” (6:6)

4.) Conclude by making an offering to God- (6:13-21)

There are some figures from the Old Testament that make the entirety of their life a Nazarite Vow- Samson (he’s really bad at it though) and St. John the Baptist, for example.

The priestly blessing was given to Aaron as a further exercising of the high priesthood. This shows why a high priest was selected- he’s the mediator between God and man. The priest wasn’t just meant to offer sacrifice to God on behalf of humanity. He was also called to extend God’s blessing onto the people of Israel. This is why God explicitly commands Aaron, through Moses, to extend the priestly blessing over the Israelites frequently, “The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Numbers 6:24-26)

The Seventy

This recalls the 70 elders that accompanied Moses up to Mount Sinai. They helped to interpret the Law for the Israelites, effectively extending the blessing of the Covenant onto the entire nation.

Similarly, Christ authorizes the seventy disciples to go forth and use His name to cast out demons and heal the sick. As is typical with Old Testament foreshadowings, the New Covenant fulfillment is greater. The 70 elders of Israel helped to settle legal matters, healing relationships and civic life. The 70 disciples of Christ cure the soul and body through the intercession of the name of Jesus.

The Bronze Serpent

I didn’t learn this until I was studying at Ave Maria University, but the symbol typically associated with the medical field is actually meant to symbolize the Bronze Serpent that God used to cure the Israelites.

The short of the story is, Israel becomes fed up with wandering through the desert. They accuse God of wanting to watch them suffer and die in their wanderings. God responds by sending a group of serpents to bite and kill the Israelites. Essentially, be careful what you wish for. Moses is then commanded to make a statue of a bronze serpent on a pole, and any Israelite that looks upon it will be cured of the venomous bites of the snake. (Numbers 21:4-9)

There’s a deep, abiding lesson to be gained from this account. That which causes pain, the serpents, can actually be the antidote, too. The Israelites must look at the serpent, essentially confronting what they did in provoking God to anger, in order to be freed from death.

This is exactly how we Christians view the Crucifixion. When Christ died on the cross, He poured out His mercy upon us and consummated His role as the intercessor between us and God the Father. As Scripture says we, “look upon Him whom [we] have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10).

The Bronze Serpent is a foreshadowing of this. Israel complained, injuring their relationship with God. It is through gazing, symbolized by the Bronze Serpent, on that wounded relationship, symbolized by the venomous snakes, that they can be healed.

In the same way, it is our sin that put Christ on the cross, but it is only by gazing upon Christ and begging for His mercy, in the Sacrament of Confession, that we can be healed of the eternal consequences of sin- Hell. Don’t just take my word for it! Christ identified the Bronze Serpent as a foreshadowing of Himself (John 3:14-15).

Desert Wanderings as a Foreshadowing

Now, let’s just call it as it is. Being a Catholic in the end times is WAY better than an Israelite in the desert wanderings. God Himself has come in the flesh, and He resides in the Blessed Sacrament among us. We have the 6 other Sacraments, too. AND we have the life of grace restored in our souls.

All of that can be true, and yet- we are still in “the valley of tears”. Until we reach Heaven, there is a longing deep in our souls. We haven’t been brought to perfection yet, even with all the blessings that Jesus has bestowed on us.

In a way, our Earthly pilgrimage is a desert wandering. We await admittance into the TRUE Promised Land, Heaven. In the meanwhile, we grapple with sin and the Devil, working “out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). So that, when God calls us home, we are so filled with His love, mercy, and grace that He permits us entrance.

In Conclusion

In my opinion, which isn’t worth much, this is one of the more “dry” periods of Salvation History. There are some dramatic events and beautiful passages. But, for the most part, it’s just Israel serving the punishment for their lack of trust in the providence of God. I often think of the Desert Wanderings as “setting the table” before a great feast. It’s not exciting, but it’s necessary to enjoy what comes next- the Conquests, the Royal Kingdom, and the Divided Kingdom. There will be more interesting stories to follow in those periods. I’m greatly looking forward to writing them for you, but in the meantime- the rest is *Salvation* History.