Life in the desert

So if you haven't heard, the weather is really gloomy and rainy here in the Philly area today.  This is one of those days in which you just want to stay in bed and sleep the day away.  But instead I have to come into the office and am attempting to get some work done.  Anyways, I am looking for a bit more sermon help if you are willing to think along with me.  This week we are continuing with our look at the Exodus, which I started last week, and focusing on the wandering in the desert part.  My original intention was to talk about living faithfully on the journey with God and how the desert is a place where our relationship with God is tested.

So here's my questions for this week:  What is your view of the desert metaphor in Scripture?

Is it punishment?  It is a place of testing?  Of preparation?

Is it necessary?  Did God have to lead the people through the desert?

What does the desert look like in our spiritual life?  Is the desert only times in our life when things seem like they're going down the crapper?

Thanks in advance for the conversation.  I'll try to do the Tim Keel post sometime this afternoon.