Resting In A Desert

As I was considering a subject to write about, the Ruach HaKodesh gave me Mark 6. No verse number just the book and chapter, so I opened my Bible to Mark 6. As I was reading between verses 30 and 52 there was two items that caught my attention.

The first item was the desert and the second item was the mountain. I would like to elaborate on them separately before I blend them together.

“And He [Yahoshua] said unto them [the apostles], ‘Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while’; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, . . .” Mark 6:31-33, KJV.

The apostles had been preaching and doing good works so they needed rest. Why does Yahoshua tell them to go to a desert place to find rest? Besides the obvious answer to the question, which is that the activity where they were at was so much that they did not even have time to eat, we can see several correlations. First, try to consider what is out in a desert, what there is to do, and what the significance is physically and spiritually. There is nothing much in a desert. No cities, no trees, sparse animals, little or no water, and etc. It is a place of hiding yet wide open. Physically there isn not much to do except survive. Spiritually, mentally, and emotionally there is a lot you can accomplish in a desert.

A desert is a place to separate yourself from others so that you can trust on YaHVaH to provide for your needs, so that you can have no interruption between you and YaHVaH, and so that you can take time to work out all of your problems and/or build your faith.

The Israelites were in the desert for 40 years, Yahoshua was in the desert for 40 days, and Paul was in the desert for some time. They all relied on YaHVaH to provide for them, strengthen their faith, and dealt with their problems. As a result they served YaHVaH more devoutly and either learned or showed humility.

I see that the apostles needed physical rest, and increase in faith, and humility, which would also provide spiritual rest and peace, threby preventing them from becoming proud with their own accomplishments.

Whether you have been in the ministry for 20 years, are a layman, or you are a ‘babe’ in the Messiah, you need both physical and spiritual rest in a “desert” place from time to time so you can fulfill the plan YaHVaH has for you by relying on Him instead of your own self.

If you are a person behind bars, you may feel like you are in a desert place more than some others, but you are only truly there if you are relying on YaHVaH, strengthening your faith, staying out of the prison ‘games’ and showing humility. Remember your works are for YaHVaH and “your church” does not belong to you, but it and the people belong to Messiah. If you find yourself caught up or becoming self-prideful, then it is time for a rest in a desert place.

Here are some suggestions of “desert places” to go. Visit a monastery and share life with the monks. A retreat is a very quiet place. Another great place would be an out of the way small country church, especially for the minister. It may also be beneficial to even go to a different denomination instead of your own, but you will need to put aside any prejudices to get the Word that YaHVaH has for you.

“And when He [Yahoshua] had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray.” Mark 6:46, KJV. This was not Yahoshua’s only time to pray on a mountain and others in Scripture have as well. To go up on a mountain takes some physical effort if you do not have vehicles or lifts to help you. The Scriptures seem to indicate a more closeness to YaHVaH while on a mountain. Have you climbed a “mountain” to pray? They are quieter and even more secluded than the desert; thereby allowing you to hear from YaHVaH easier. The mountain does not necessarily have to be a high, physical place. It can be any place physically or spiritually where you have made an effort to go secluded from others, so that you can hear from and pray to YaHVaH.

In the Scriptures, you will notice that even when they left privately, they were seen and followed. Therefore, leaving privately would mean that they did not discuss it with anyone else or tell the people they were leaving. For ministers, this can be seen as not advising your congregation. You may tell your family or staff, but the congregation only needs to know that someone else may preach next week, just as Yahoshua preached while the apostles rested. If you are seen leaving and followed it is alright because they will receive a blessing just as the crowd that followed did. Do not hide your leaving for a rest, but do not make a big show about it either.

Take time out of your busy schedule to go to a “desert place” so you can rely on YaHVaH and be strengthened with rest. They with your renewed vigor make an effort to get closer to YaHVaH in prayer by climbing a mountain and listening. Be prepared for a possible storm to test your faith afterwards, as was the case in verses 47 to 51 of Mark 6.

Rest and pray. May YaHVaH bless you always.

First published 1-2003, © 2002, 2017

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