The Wilderness is often uncomfortable.

The Wilderness is about waiting.

God uses the wilderness space to build new patterns in our lives.

Liminality

In the wilderness, every so often there is a mountain.

The wilderness often contains dark places.

In the wilderness, there will be trials as we travel together.

In the wilderness, there is a specific path God desires us to walk.

In the wilderness, God gives us a new identity.

In the Promised Land there will be both abundance and monsters.

Once in the Promised Land, remember the journey.

Deuteronomy26:1-10

OnceyouenterthelandthatGodisgivingyouasaninheritanceandtakeitoverandse=ledown,youaretotakesomeofallthefirstfruitsofwhatyougrowinthelandthatGodisgivingyou,puttheminabasketandgototheplaceGodsetsapartforyoutoworshiphim.

…youaretotakesomeofallthefirstfruitsofwhatyougrowinthelandthatGodisgivingyou,puttheminabasketandgototheplaceGodsetsapartforyoutoworshiphim.

AtthatGme,gotothepriestwhoisthereandsay,“IannouncetoGodtodaythatIhaveenteredthelandthatGodpromisedourancestorsthathe’dgivetous.”ThepriestwilltakethebasketfromyouandplaceitontheAltarofGod,yourGod.

AndthereinthePresenceofGod,yourGod,youwillrecite:

“AwanderingArameanwasmyfather,hewentdowntoEgyptandsojournedthere,heandjustahandfulofhisbrothersatfirst,butsoontheybecameagreatnaGon,mightyandmany.TheEgypGansabusedandba=eredus,inacruelandsavageslavery.WecriedouttoGod,theGod-of-Our-Fathers:Helistenedtoourvoice,hesawourdesGtuGon,ourtrouble,ourcruelplight.

AndGodtookusoutofEgyptwithhisstronghandandlongarm,terribleandgreat,withsignsandmiracle-wonders.Andhebroughtustothisplace,gaveusthislandflowingwithmilkandhoney.

SohereIam.I’vebroughtthefirstfruitsofwhatI’vegrownonthisgroundyougaveme,OGod.”

ThenplaceitinthePresenceofGod.ProstrateyourselvesinthePresenceofGod.Andrejoice!CelebrateallthegoodthingsthatGodhasgivenyouandyourfamily;youandtheLeviteandtheforeignerwholiveswithyou.