It’s very touching to watch a child start to walk. The wobbling, lack of rhythm, stumbles and indeterminate falls, make us feel internally and incredibly fond of what we already know—that is, that they have it in their potential, to one day stand independently in the future.
There’s sort of a felt difficulty when looking on. It’d seem we’re quite aware of those primary years of trial and error. So accustomed to our constantly learning how to get it right. And of course, our being self-assured enough to walk it on out quite effectively. Or do we?
At a personal level, we wouldn’t dare say we enjoy it when someone physically falls on their face, although we may chuckle inwardly, or can’t imagine giving that person an unwelcoming gesture like closed arms of fellowship when they’re feeling most vulnerable. Do we?
Society creates enough relational difficulties without having to express opinion as to where we believe another should have arrived by now. At least, we’re thinking, the feeble and unbelieving should be able to stand on one’s own without falling over, or always needing a strong shoulder to lean upon. Can we?
We tend to bash the children of Israel who only had an 11 day journey turn into a 40 year experience because this illustration makes us feel good, doesn’t it? To at least see how in the downfalls of others, we’re at least reminded how well we can stand on our own two feet. We mimic them while also looking down upon them at the same time, assuring ourselves “how we would not do such in such in a given situation“.
Why does it seemingly take so long for (us) others to develop some cadence in their Christian walk and move forward and finally arrive? Are there just sins that so easily beset these weaker people, that it becomes so altogether frustrating to watch? 
Without understanding that that term ‘foreknowledge of God’ as it relates to His predestination of His people, (1 Pet. 1:2) we’d miss the value of the experimental. You see, their particular wilderness experience (as is yours) was designed to impart a few things. One is dependency, and the others are separation and boundary.
When forced to rely or depend on God for your literal every “thing” similar to the child reaching out to understand the world around them powerless, you’ve become acute to your surroundings.
Having to do it, or go through a period of child training (Heb. 12:11) or wilderness alone; having to carry your own load you can fully sense the separation on the availability of others in a struggling time of need.
And finally, there are boundaries to this season in which you’re having to struggle to find sure footing, without being knocked over all the time (or judged) from the harsh conditions. God is going to keep you bound and walled in until you look to Him. (Hos. 2:6) The walls, the thorns, and the barriers are designed to make us look up with affection – rather than become so patronizing.
Every created relationship is simply a story, each one with its own simple start.
You and I, called of God according to His foreknowledge, He’s predestined us for purpose in His Son, just as the land was inheritance for the Children. A time of child-training is of necessity in order to learn Him while living in the day-to-day.
And that means God knows the where, when, why, and how of bringing us through this experiential life, that we might come to appreciate the volume of value that comes with growth. Much like the look of determination in that young child you and I observed earlier in the blog.
Me and you may bash ourselves, or others for not getting over certain sins or behaviors, thinking we, or they should’ve arrived by now. But the experimental knowledge of the Lord is all about the inheritance, and the “land” is the fulness or maturity of Christ we gain (apprehend) in our wilderness experience.
