The Greek, e[rhmo" (eremos)
means a deserted place, desert, or wilderness.
Desert
in Scripture
1. A desert, or wilderness, symbolizes death, desolation, outcast, emptiness, alone,
isolation, undeveloped, nothingness, uninhabited, inhospitable,
without help, vulnerable, danger; haunt of wild animals, Satan,
and demons
2. A desert is the opposite of the Garden of Eden and
Promised Land.
3. Wilderness wandering symbolizes separation from the
world.
4. The Exodus generation of Israel died in the desert.
The Exodus lasted 40 years (Nu 14:33-34; 32:13; Deut 8:2; 29:5;
Heb 3:17). Others who went to the desert included:
a. Moses (Ex 2:15; Heb 11:27)
b. Elijah in drought (1 Ki 17:1-7)
c. John (Matt 3:1-4; Mk 1:2-6)
d. Jesus (Matt 4:1; 8:20; Lk 4:1; 9:58)
e. Paul (Gal 1:17)
5. Jesus was tested in the desert for
40 days prior to His public ministry (Mt 4:1; Mk 1:13; Lk
4:2; Heb 2:18a; 4:15).
a. Jesus was fasting, weak, in danger
from animals, at the mercy of the weather, and under attack from
Satan.
b. The outcast of Jesus into the desert
after His baptism symbolized death (separation, Sanctification)
from the world of sin.
c. The desert symbolized His purpose in
the First Advent to die on the cross (Lk 22:20; Phil 2:8).
The cross must come before the crown. He must be a servant
before becoming a king.
d. He must demonstrate His
willingness to die under the Father's Plan (Matt 26:39).
e. His Spiritual Integrity was
tested in the face of death when He was alone in the desert in
danger of wild animals and without food.
X-axis – fasting
(Matt 4:2-4; Deut 8:3)
Y-axis – Love for
God the Father (Deut 6:5)
Z-axis –
Submission to the authority of the Father's Plan (Deut 27:10)
f. He had to trust the Father with His
life (1 Cor 3:22; Phil 1:20-21).
g. He faced wild animals, such as lions,
bears, snakes, scorpions, insects (Mk 1:13) and needed Grace
support to handle them (Job 5:22-23; Dan 6:22). The animals
in the environment were under the control of angels and demons in
the Spiritual Realm.
h. He received Grace inside the Divine Dynasphere
and the support of angels (Mk 1:13).
6. An outcast in the desert symbolizes suffering of being
outcast from the world (Matt 16:25; Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4:33;
5:21))
7. Angels served Jesus in the desert (Mk 1:13; Heb 1:14),
helping and providing:
a. Health, support, strength
b. Soul control, composure,
protection from emotional revolt
c. Love, compassion, support
d. Protection and warning from attacks
from Cosmic System and dangers from animals
e. Spiritual food, teaching –
arranged Stage of Life every day
8. The wilderness is a haunt of Satan and demons (Lev 16:10,
21-22; Jer 51:37; Rev 18:2).
9. Satan's temptations of Jesus in the desert:
a. Ecumenical Babylon (Matt 4:3-4;
Lk 4:3-4)
b. Political Babylon (Matt 4:8-10;
Lk 4:5-8)
c. Cosmic Babylon (Matt 4:5-7; Lk
4:9-12)
