Deut 8:15
who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock;
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Desert walking exposes us to the devil. God leads us all the way through. Out of the experience develops intimacy with the LORD. Then comes authority.