There's a part of me that is very confused by this story. After 40 years of wandering in a desert, why are these people willing to settle for less than the Promised Land? They are so stinkin' close; what in the world are they thinking?!? Without even seeing the land flowing with milk and honey, these tribes are willing to settle for land that looks pretty good for what they need for their livestock. And God lets them! I don't get it. Why isn't that sin?
In some ways though, it seems like this happens in the lives of Christ-followers as well. We just don't want to "go there" with God. We're (mostly) satisfied with what God has blessed us with, so we settle for what seems comfortable and good enough by our standards. Taking the proverbial Promised Land in our lives would require too much of us. It would be a battle - digging into dark, painful places of the soul or addressing nagging sin patterns or dealing honestly with unhealthy ways of relating to others. And it seems that God allows us to stay in our comfortable places too. Again, I don't get it.
I realize that God allows us to make our own choices, just like He did with the tribes of Gad and Reuben. But I have felt God's gentle but unrelenting encouragement to go places I didn't necessarily want to go with Him and to deal with things that were painful and that I desperately wanted to hide or bury or avoid. Yet when I've trusted God to go there, the result has been more freedom in my life than I ever expected and a richer, more meaningful walk with the Lord as I've experienced His faithfulness and trustworthiness.
Honestly, this story brings up more questions than answers for me. It makes me think about my fears and where I'm still refusing to "go there" with God. Where have I settled for comfortable and good enough? What am I hiding? What are areas in my life that I'm afraid to bring into the light, to share with God and others? Where am I holding back because I don't want to face another battle or more pain?
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; see for yourself whether I've done anything wrong - then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23-24
3 comments:
I hear ya, Cici. So impatient! Hmm... perhaps I've been guilty of that before... 'Thanks, God, for that awesome plan and vision, but really I've got a quicker and maybe even a little better plan.'
Each time I read about these massive blessings on the Israelites and then the ways that God tells them to divide it, I can't help but wonder about the jealousy and greed that must have risen. It isn't ever addressed that I know of, but we know their ruin is coming, and that this obedience is short-lived and surfacy.
This chapter has haunted me for years with questions about why some Christians don't have to "go there". God seems to allow them to float through life, choosing safety and security (32:17-18). Della, I know I experienced some of that jealousy that you mention -- a Psalm 73 kind of thing. For years, this frustrated me until God showed me through this passage that He allowed it. They were still His people, they still "fought" to some extent. It was their choice not to enter the Promised Land with all its blessings and all its messiness.
I hope I'm choosing to go there with God. I don't want to miss it for the sake of safety and security!
Love this, Cici!
I do look around and see how people I know have settled, and it always makes me sad to see how they miss the blessing that comes from reckless obedience. They miss the adventure they will have as they content themselves with "good enough", and not wait for God's best. The problem is that their focus is on themselves, and what is comfortable for them (ie livestock), instead of keeping their focus on God and His glory. They forgot to ask the question, "What would bring the most glory to God?" instead of "What would make me the happiest?" They miss the bigger adventure, the chance to live for something bigger than themselves and their own comfort. They live on the fringe of the promised land, surrounded by pagans and feeling that they are living the abundant life- but they are merely doing so by comparison, and their eyes are focused on themselves, rather than God's glory. They make me sad because they are so much like ME!
Joshua 4:23-24 sums up what we miss when we settle for staying on this side of the Jordan:
"23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over...24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God." We miss the chance to see God do amazing, miraculous things, and we miss the chance to bring God glory among the nations.
I wish I didn't struggle in the same way everyday...I wish my heart were always willing to cross the Jordan every moment. I find that it is easier for me to follow God recklessly in big things, but it is the smaller, daily choices that show my weakness. It may look better on the outside, I may make the big jump into the Promised Land when there is that kind of choice to be made, but my eyes are on my own comfort and happiness when it is just me and no one may ever know. Lord, change my heart to desire to obey you recklessly in EVERY area...in the ones that don't seem to matter much, and the ones that no one else sees. Help me to desire your glory above all things. Show me where am I choosing my own comfort over your glory today.
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