S5 Episode 1: Stories from the Wilderness - Intro & Context

The Wilderness. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines wilderness as an empty or pathless area or region. The wilderness is uncharted territory. It is the place where we feel lost, not knowing where to go because there is not a path to follow. But, as we will see throughout this study: it was not uncharted territory for the Great I AM, the Creator of the World. He often leads by way of wandering, not the most direct route. He leads in places that feel pathless and empty. Because there are some lessons about God that can be learned in the fertile soil of the wilderness. While the wilderness is often used to describe a hard circumstance in our life, as Christians, it's also a picture of our life on earth: We've been redeemed, saved from slavery to sin and we are bound for the Promised Land, heaven. But in between, we are wandering in a land that is not our home. But God does not leave us here to fend for ourselves, instead, He walks with us, before, and provides for us as we go.In this video, Erin Warren sets up the Stories from the Wilderness study, including how to use the study book and the study format. She also discusses the important context information to help set the lens through which we will study (who wrote it, what's going on in history at that time, etc) and recaps Genesis 46-50 and Exodus 1-11 to lay the groundwork for our first week of study.This is often story we see as a list of what not to do. We judge the Israelites harshly for the way they continue to complain and question. But this is not their story. It's the story of God, the Redeemer and Faithful One, and throughout the coming weeks, we will see Him reveal and prove His character over and over and over again. We will see that the God of the Promised Land is the same God in the Wilderness.For more information on this study: ⁠FeastingOnTruth.com/WildernessFor recommended resources: ⁠FeastingOnTruth.com/Resources⁠For more information on studying Scripture: ⁠FeastingOnTruth.com/HowTo⁠Erin's books and other studies: ⁠FeastingOnTruth.com/Books⁠For speaking inquiries: ⁠FeastingOnTruth.com/Speaking