Discipling Life

As we move deeper into the season of Lent, our hearts are often turned toward quiet reflection and self-examination. But this week, our scripture from Psalm 95 starts with a bit of a joyful noise. It invites us to sing, to make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation, and to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving. 1 O come, let us sing to the Lord;     let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;     let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95 begins with an invitation to praise. It calls us to lift our voices, to bow in worship, and to remember that the Lord is our Creator and Shepherd. There’s a sense of joy and gratitude—God is good, and all creation belongs to him. Psalm 95, known as the Venite (Latin: “O come”), has been used as a call to worship for millennia. Originating as a song for Israel’s Temple festivals and Sabbath, it ...

 As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, we often talk about the “wilderness.” For many of us, the wilderness isn’t just a place in a Bible story; it’s a feeling. It’s that season of life where resources feel thin, our patience is wearing out, and we aren’t quite sure if we’re on the right path. In this week’s reading from Exodus 17:1-7 , we find the Israelites in exactly that spot. They had seen God do amazing things—bringing them out of Egypt and parting the Red Sea—but now they are thirsty. And in the desert, thirst isn’t just an inconvenience; it feels like a death sentence. 1 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people ...

Several key biblical stories link a wilderness (or desert) experience with the number 40, often marking a season of testing, transition, or preparation. Major Wilderness “40” Stories The number 40 is often associated with testing and preparation in the Bible. It is especially associated with the wilderness where people learn to trust in their Lord. Israel in the wilderness – 40 years After the exodus, Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years as a time of judgment, discipline, and formation before entering the promised land (for example, Deuteronomy 8:2–5). This extended “wilderness forty” becomes the backdrop for how later texts understand testing and trust. Moses on Sinai – 40 days and nights Moses remained on Mount Sinai, in a harsh, mountainous wilderness, for forty days and forty nights when receiving the law from God (Exodus 24:18; see also Exodus 34:28). This is a period of fasting, intense encounter, and covenant revelation. Elijah to Horeb – 40 days and nigh...