For today’s meditation we will read Deuteronomy 1:21, “See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'” (ESV)
These were the words of Moses to the people of Israel. When the Lord delivered the Israelites from their cruel bondage to slavery in Egypt, they headed towards the Promised Land which was now right before their eyes. Moses commanded the people to move forward with courage to possess the land that God had promised them. However, the people of Israel were a wearied and disheartened lot who doubted as to what the Promised Land would look like.
The way the Israelites chose
This was the response of the Israelites to Moses as found in Deuteronomy 1:22, “Then all of you came near me and said, 'Let us send men before us that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.'” (ESV)
Though Moses encouraged the Israelites to move on without fear to possess the land, the people wanted to inspect the land. Let me highlight how the word ‘us’ stands out in the above mentioned verse as the people were more concerned about what was in it for them.
Though the Lord had led them out of perilous situations, and taken care of all their needs, the Israelites were still hesitant to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly. While Moses kept the promise of God at the forefront the people kept themselves ahead of everything else. To Moses it was all about God, whereas for the people it was all about themselves.
Often when we begin our journey of faith with the Lord our trust is initially on the Lord alone. However as we grow in this spiritual journey we begin to trust in our own strength instead of depending on God.
When the people insisted this was the response of God to Moses though it was not really God’s desire to do so.
We read in Numbers 13:1-2, The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, everyone a chief among them." (ESV)
The Lord told Moses to send men to spy on the land though it was not his will. Those who began this journey trusting in the Lord were all of a sudden tempted to trust in their own wisdom and strength. Notice how God did not stop them from doing what they wanted.
Whenever we want to do things according to our own desires, and want to depend on our own understanding, the Lord will stand aside to allow us to do what we want to do. Often when we progress in some areas we begin to think that we can achieve everything on our own.The fact is that whenever we want to do things according to our own idea, and go our own way, the Lord permits for that to happen.
We will look at some examples in the bible to understand this better.
The way Balaam chose
We read in Numbers 22:12, But God said to Balaam, "Don't go with them! Don't curse these people, because they are blessed." (GW)
Balak, the King of Moab sent his men to the Prophet Balaam, and requested that he should curse the people of Israel, as the King of Moab feared that the progress of the Israelites would make him have to relinquish his kingdom. When Balaam enquired of the Lord, the instruction of the Lord was clear that he should not go along with the men sent by Balak, or curse the people of Israel as they were blessed by the Lord.
There are many clear instructions in the Word of God as to the things that God does not want us to do, and it would be good for us to do as God commands us to.
Balaam was double-minded, but told the men who came from the King of Moab that God did not permit him to accompany them. Nonetheless, when men of greater honor from Balak approached Balaam the second time with the same request, and tempted him that the King would honor him greatly, Balaam was confused and distracted.
We read in Numbers 22:19, Now, why don't you stay here tonight, as the others did, and I'll find out what else the LORD may have to tell me." (GW)
Balaam made the men stay overnight so that he could enquire of God, and could try to convince God to allow him to go with them.
So often when God instructs us that we should not go someplace, should not associate with someone, we still want to go ahead with our own desires. As children of God if we insist on having our own way, the Lord will not stop us from doing so.
Read God’s response to Balaam in Numbers 22:20, That night God came to Balaam and said, "If these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you." (GW)
God knew that Balaam was firmly decided to go with the men, and God just gave permission to do so.
Everything that God has commanded us to not do in His word, we too should shun, and avoid for only then are we assured of God’s protection.
Though God gave permission to Balaam we read in Numbers 22:22, “God was angry that Balaam was going, and as Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants, the angel of the LORD stood in the road to bar his way.” (GNB)
Balaam went according to his own plan, but God was angry with him even though God permitted him to go, and the angel of the Lord stood on the road to hinder Balaam from proceeding on his journey.
One cannot imagine the plight of someone whom God opposes. The will of God is forthright in the bible, but often there are many believers too who chose to do things their own willful ways. Let us be cautioned that sometimes the Lord will allow us to go down the path we choose, but we may also become objects of God’s wrath. The Lord has clearly given us guidelines as to the kind of people we should be friends with, and partner with. There are many instructions pertaining to marriage as well. In spite of all these directives if we decide to keep on insisting on having our own way, and keep asking God for the same, the Lord will concede, and not stop us. Let us submit to God, surrender our will to His, and be willing to do as He bids us to do. Our hearts must be willing to let go of those things that God does not approve of.
The way Abraham and Sarah chose
Abraham was seventy five years old when God called him. God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing.” (GNB)
The promise God gave Abram was that he would make his name great, and that a great nation would come forth out of him. Abram had no child, and when ten years has passed on, he was eighty five years old, and his wife Sarai seventy five years old. Abram and Sarai presumed that they had to something in order for God’s promise to be fulfilled through them.
Sarai gave a plan to Abram as found in Genesis 16:2, And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. (ESV)
Sarai knew that God had closed her womb, but did not understand that God had done it on purpose. In this journey of faith, Abram and Sarai were going good for ten years, and then they began to falter. They now thought that it was time to do something to get the promise fulfilled.
Though Sarai knew that God’s time had not yet come, she was not willing to wait. The result of this plan that Abram and Sarai made resulted in the birth of a son through Hagar, who was Sarai’s slave. The God who closed Sarai’s womb, opened Hagar’s womb to bear a son. However, from that day on a family that was happy and peaceful was thrown into total confusion and chaos.
When God closes a door we should never try to pry it open, as it would become harmful to us. We have a God who will never fail to fulfill His promise, and will not waver from what He has promised. Believe that if God has given you a word, He will accomplish it. Children of God remember that God is able to fulfill what He has promised, and He does not need our help to fulfill the same.
We’ve looked at how the people of Israel chose to go their way, and ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Also we studied the way that Balaam chose, the way that Abram and Sarai chose, and the consequences of their choices as well.
Just because God does not stop us from the path that we have taken, does not mean that we are on the right track.
The way Jonah went
We read in Jonah 1:1-2, Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." (ESV)
God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach against that city. However, this is what Jonah did.
We read in Jonah 1:3, But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.(ESV)
Jonah did something totally contrary to what God had commanded him. As Jonah chose to go the opposite way we read that there was a ship ready at the harbor, there was a seat for Jonah, and Jonah also had the money to purchase a ticket on that ship. It seemed that Jonah had everything going in his favor as he walked away in disobedience to God.
Sadly, there are many who assume that they are in the will of God because of circumstances that seem to be going in their favor. There are many who are even justifying their wrong choices because all is going good for them. When God says we should not do something, we should obey. In every decision we must wait for God’s time, and learn to do God’s will. God will certainly fulfill His promises that He has made to us in His time without fail. If we insist on having our way, the Lord will not hinder us, but will allow us to go ahead, and the consequences we will have to face.
The way of the prodigal son
The parable of the prodigal son brings out this point in a very powerful way.
We read in Luke 15:11-13, “And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.” (ESV)
Before the appointed time, the younger son approached his father for his share of the property. The father did not refuse the request, and when the son decided to move out, notice how the father never stopped him. As the son left the house with all the money he probably thought he was going the right way, doing the right thing, and would enjoy all the blessings of God.
This is interesting to note because the father represents God. When we as God’s children insist on having our own way, He does not stand in the way.
Later, this is what happened to the prodigal son who having squandered everything he had was now left in dire straits with nothing to call his own, and ended up looking after pigs.
We read in Luke 15:20, “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (ESV)
As the son decided to journey back to his father’s home, we read that the father was waiting for him and with compassion ran, embraced his son, kissed him and welcomed him back. Isn’t it interesting to observe that the father who did not stop his son from taking the share of property and leaving home, was eagerly awaiting his return every day after the son had left? I am sure the father spent more time outside the house waiting for his son to return than he did inside.
The question that may arise is as to why the father did not coax his son to stay back, but rather waited eagerly for his son’s return. I believe that the only reason was that the father knew that his son had made up his mind to walk out with his share, and no amount of talking or reasoning would make him change his mind.
Sometimes we too should not waste our time trying to convince people who are so firm in going the wrong way.
Often times we make decisions based on our flesh, and because God does not stop it or hinder it we go ahead with the thought that we are in the right path. Every time we disobey God’s word, and do things that are not in keeping with His will, we can be certain that we will face the due consequences.
The son lost everything that was duly his, and his situation was most deplorable. A young man who was the cherished son of his father was reduced to the state of tending pigs. We see that the wrong choice he made landed him in such a pathetic condition. Only then he came to his senses, and realized that he should repent, and return to his father.
As children of God if you have taken wrong decisions, and lost many things in the process, remember that God is our loving father waiting for your return. Confess to God that you have made wrong choices and gone down the wrong path. If you repent and confess to the Lord He will forgive you, and take you back to be his own child.
In all of the examples that we saw we realize that all of the people did not trust in the Lord but depended on their own understanding. The consequence was therefore terrible.
We read in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.” (MSG)
The Lord wants us to depend on Him totally, and acknowledge Him in all our ways. If we do that He will make all our paths straight. Let us ask God that we totally trust Him, don’t lean on our own understanding, and be those who are willing to do His will. If we do so, the Lord will fulfill His promises in our lives, and nothing or no one can hinder God’s promises from being fulfilled in our lives in His time.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
