Lent Week 1: Moses, Wanderings, and Wilderness

It's hard to believe, but we are already almost a week into the first days of Lent.

Just out of curiosity, I took some time to learn about the history of Lent. It is, after all, a rather odd period of time, one that doesn't match well with out commercialism-infused culture. We have a cultural script to eat chocolate bunnies and hide cheap plastic eggs on Easter. We don't have a cultural script for the forty days of fasting before Easter, however.

The History of Lent: A Journey of Renewal

 Lent goes way back to the early Church. The word Lent comes from the Old English lencten, meaning "springtime," reflecting the season of renewal. Which makes sense — Lent was seen as a time of renewal and rebirth.Early Christians prepared for Easter through an extended period of fasting, prayer, and repentance, often lasting 40 days in imitation of Christ’s own 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).

By the fourth century, the Church formally established Lent as a time of preparation for catechumens—those seeking baptism at Easter. Over time, it became a universal season of spiritual renewal for all Christians. Why 40 days? It echoes key moments in Scripture—Jesus fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28), Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8), and Israel’s 40 years in the desert. It’s a number with spiritual significance. It represents preparation, testing, transformation.

But Lent isn’t just about giving things up. It’s about making space for God. The three pillars—prayer, fasting, and charity —help us reorient our hearts. We pray to deepen our relationship with God. We fast to detach from distractions. We give to remind ourselves that love is more than an orientation of the heart; it's an action.

Lenten Reflection: The Wilderness Journey of Moses

Lent is like a journey into the wilderness—a time to step away from distractions, face challenges, and rely more on God. But that can feel uncomfortable. Nobody likes being in the wilderness. It’s dry, lonely, and uncertain. Yet, throughout Scripture, God uses the wilderness to shape His people.

Take Moses, for example. He didn’t start out as the strong, faithful leader we think of today. He was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, but when he tried to act on his sense of justice, he failed. He killed an Egyptian who attacked an Israelite and had to flee for his life (Exodus 2:11-15). Suddenly, the prince of Egypt was a refugee in the desert, herding sheep.

That wilderness season lasted 40 years. It wasn’t just a place Moses ran to—it was a place God sent him. There, Moses learned humility. He learned to listen to God. He learned to lead—not with power, but with patience. By the time God spoke to him from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-12), Moses was no longer the same man that he had been so many years before. The wilderness had changed him. 

It was only after those forty years in the desert that he was able to speak to God in the burning bush. It was only after those forty years in the desert that he was able to go back to Egypt and bring God's people out of slavery. It was only after those forty years that Moses was able to part the Red Sea. It was only after those forty years that Moses was able to go up Mount Sinai in a storm and return with the very words of God to lead and guide his people.

Lent is an invitation to our own wilderness journey. It’s a time to let go of things that distract us—whether it’s unhealthy habits (I need to spend less time on Instagram!), busyness (Grad school! Career! Family! Friends!), or sin. It’s a season to trust God in the waiting, even when we don’t see the results yet. Just like Moses, we might feel unqualified or unsure of where God is leading us. 

But the wilderness isn’t the end of the story. It’s a reminder to sit in the now. It's a reminder that more is coming. God is calling us to serve peace and justice in our world — and the time we spend in the wilderness now is a time to prepare for that.

What Can We Learn from Moses?

• God doesn’t waste the wilderness. What feels like a setback might actually be where God is shaping you.
• Silence is where we learn to hear God. Moses spent forty years alone in the wilderness before he could hear God's voice.  Lent invites us to do the same.
• Trust the journey. Moses didn’t understand why he had to spend decades herding sheep after growing up like a prince. But when the time was right, God called him to find justice for the people He loved. Your season of waiting has a purpose, too.

Reflection Questions:

• How is God calling me to seek justice in my life this Lent?
• In what ways can I grow in faith and trust, like Moses?
• Where do I need to surrender control and allow God to lead me?
• How can I deepen my Lenten journey? How can I make space for God in my life?

Prayer:

Lord, like Moses, you call me to justice and righteousness. Open my heart this Lent to hear your voice, to trust your guidance, and to act in love. Help me embrace this season of renewal. I don’t always like the wilderness. It feels lonely, uncertain, and slow.  Help me trust that You are shaping me, even when I can’t see it. Teach me to listen, to wait, and to follow You, that I may be transformed and drawn closer to You.  Amen.