Allured to the Wilderness - Awakening to a Desert Season

Hosea 2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart.

“Allure”  Strong’s H6601 - to be spacious, be open, be wide, to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade, be gullible, seduce

I know this word. I experience it every time I walk into one of my favorite local coffee and bakery shops.  I am allured by the aromas that are earthy and sweet; warm and comforting with a touch of sophistication wafting through the air.  Following my nose leads me to what I seek.  But what if the coffee that smelled so good being poured into a cup then tasted like wood shavings?  Or the fresh scent of yeast bread yielded a slice with green mold on it?  How cheated would we feel?  Yet that is the implied meaning of this word “allure” used here. 

It seems that I live in modern day Babylon; a place where commerce and capitalism drive the pace of life.  With that comes a subtle but fierce competition for my attention. I find that the affections of my heart can easily be lured away in any number of directions.  How often I am aware of having so many options for avoiding unpleasant feelings; if I’m lonely I can have dinner out with my friends.  If I’m having a bout with insecurity a new outfit does the trick.

It is not that I love these comforts more than God – though at one time I held them so tightly that I left Him no choice but to empty my hands so I could learn to hold on to Him instead.  While He did that, He taught me how much He loves me and that He is the only Source for life.  In time, as I did some much needed maturing, many of these comforts were given back and some even multiplied.  Yet always, each time they slyly creep too close to becoming a substitute for Him, they begin to grow dull until I realize what’s happening and set things right in my heart.  This is such a gift. 

God desires to bless us with good things; He says it renews our youth and keeps us strong (Psalm 103:5).  Psalm 81:10 tells us to open our mouth wide and He will fill it.   Yet it is so incredibly easy to let these blessings become our source for life as opposed to looking to God as our life and letting His blessings come to us as pleasures.  This approach keeps everything in order freeing us to enjoy all that He sends, yet it can be so hard to maintain.

Surely this has to explain some of the reasons why God has to allure (trick so to speak) us into going to the wilderness.  We see what appears to be a treat, something with all the charm and promise of a coffeehouse in Venice, but the experience of drinking the cup is tasteless, void of flavor.  It could even be that just yesterday we had a lovely cup right here, but today the exact same experience is dull, flat and unsatisfying.  No matter where we turn seeking just a little comfort; it yields nothing. 

Slowly we awaken to the realization we are in the wilderness; we have “come to” in the desert. And just like a mirage, what promised pleasure turns up empty.  It is hot, dusty, dry, and ugly – and we are alone.  Nothing and no one is coming to our rescue.  What do we do?  Panic perhaps and scramble to find relief; but as surely as we try, every single attempt meets with disappointment.

Because our God will not compete for the affection of our heart or the attention of our mind – if He is going to win us, it seems He has to allure us.  Down the street, around the corner we go, following the smell of fresh brewed coffee (or a new outfit, a gourmet meal – whatever our comfort and desire are begging for) until we have gone so far as to look around and realize we are lost.  The city is gone; the paved road at an end.  It is a frightening place to be. There is nothing else to do but wait and seek. 

And then He comes; unannounced and without any explanation of what we’re doing here or why.  If we want to know why, we have to ask.  As long as we feel we are entitled to pleasure for the sake of pleasure alone instead of pleasure as a gift, we will never learn to ask Him what’s wrong when life dries up.

For it is here in the wilderness that God has tender words to speak to us; words of healing, words of hope and encouragement about our today and our tomorrow.  Indeed it seems that some of the most personal and profound things He has to say will only be said in private – One to one.  So He allures us away; alone for the express purpose of ushering in a deeper intimacy.