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The desert is one of the most uninhabitable places on earth. It’s dry, almost entirely void of life, and covered in burning sand.
Maybe that’s why Dante included the desert in his seventh circle of hell!
Why, then, does the Lord promise to lead Israel into the desert in our first reading?
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To draw them closer to himself.
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At this point in the Old Testament, Israel has repeatedly proven unfaithful to God. They’ve worshipped other gods, failed to pray, and given into immoral living.
To capture their attention, the Lord allows a neighboring army to invade, sending Israel into the desert.
But it’s not meant to be an aggressive type of punishment.
The prophet Hosea promises that Israel’s impending military defeat, and their desert experience to follow, can purify their faith, deepening Israel’s intimacy with God.
But they must be humble.
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It sounds hard to believe that God can bring something good out of destruction and defeat.
Hardship can lead any of us down the path of pity parties and depression. Like the ancient Israelites, maybe you’re having your own “desert experience” right now.
Maybe a deep sense of isolation has set in since COVID spread. Maybe you’re enduring a dry period in prayer; personal grief; or uncertainty about the future.
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The prophet Hosea reminds us that God is present, even in these desert experiences.
The Lord can use our most difficult days to purify our faith, drawing us closer to himself.
But such a transformation always begins with humility and surrender.
