Piled Up Rubble

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “WE should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Numbers 13:30

People like Caleb are an encouragement to the rest of us. They are faithful and loyal to God’s cause. They invite us into the realm of the supernatural, helping us to believe in our big God.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end the way we would have hoped.

At the beginning of this account, God had instructed Moses to “send men to explore the land of Canaan,” a land He was gifting to the Israelites as a possession (13:1). I wrote about this passage four years ago in a blog called, Little Bitty Giants.

Twelve men (including Caleb) were chosen and accomplished the task at hand. Verse 31-33 reminds us of what happens in response to Caleb’s courageous plea.

“But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Now, the listeners were in despair! The next chapter continues the story.

“That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “…Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)

This time around, as I wrote about these familiar verses, I wanted to concentrate on something different than before: They wanted a new leader, a captain to guide them safely home (how absurd, ungrateful and foolish!). What they really wanted now was someone who would be faithful to their own interests.

Yet, who would be the one to shield them and care for them now? Surely, Egypt wouldn’t even let them anywhere nearby.

(vs. 5-9) “Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.”

Their arrogance piques my interest, a foolishness that feels to me like it was out of control. I try to imagine how Moses must have felt and all he had put into this calling! He had given his all.

God was the one with whom the plan had originated. HE was the only piece of the Canaan dilemma that warranted consideration. Whenever He spoke truth, He had proven Himself time and time again that His declarations would happen, if only they would believe. How many times must they learn this lesson?

What about us?

The believers pleaded with the others not to be afraid. The inhabitants of the land had zero chance of winning. It didn’t matter their size or skills. The PROTECTION of the people was gone! The Lord was with the Israelites.

But they refused to listen. Their wickedness was the last straw for God. Now they would be kept from entering the land and their children would enter instead. Caleb and Joshua were they only men who would step into Canaan out of all those people.

So, again, what about our own disbelief?

Our lack of trust worsens the situation. When we don’t follow God’s ways in trust, our paths will look like a junk yard of piled up rubble. It’s time we burn away our faithless thoughts and, in the power of our Lord, reset our minds on God.

Instead of searching for greener grass somewhere out there and clinging to our own way, we have faith and eyesight to see the green already in our lives. Everywhere we look around us, God can help us realize that He is working, right now in a mighty way.

Even little issues can bind us in lies and make us forget that greener grass comes at a dear price. But God can conquer our troubles according to His will. And when things don’t go our way, …we can STILL…trust Him. We can still see His place in our lives as the greenest grass we could possibly possess.

In our most wearisome disappointments, do we turn and seek a new leader?

We can all make a difference wherever we are to turn ourselves and others away from fear, rebellion and lies and, like Caleb, stand up for the Holy One of Israel, our Lord. We can have treasures of faith instead of mountains of rubble.

God, demolish the rubble in our lives. We want to express our undying gratitude for all the sacrifice, love and concern you pour out on us. May we never to take your love for granted. Open our eyes to see people, strategically placed in our lives whom you have energized and strengthened to draw us closer to you and who have grown our faith and trust in you. Help us to be thankful every day for what comes from your hand. Give us hearts that are open and true, for you are our great Leader. In Jesus name, Amen.

God Knows

During that long period, the king of Egypt died [Moses had been in Midian for several years settling down]. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. Exodus 2:23-25

God was concerned about His people. He heard their groaning, and now He would act. The Israelites had suffered under the hand of Pharoah for a considerable amount of time. They were crying out desperately for help.

They were being pushed beyond their limits in intense slavery under a wretched ruler. Now God wanted to free them.

Our own grief and tears are heard by God. He leans down to hear even the tiniest cry from our hearts. Even the cries we no nothing about deep inside, He knows. We think, so often, that He is silent, but He is listening to the prayers we pray.

God knows.

Even more than our physical struggles here on earth, God also and especially knows the quiet suffering of our souls and the poor choices with which we have enslaved ourselves. And sometimes He will use the happenstances of our lives and our choices to cause us to reach out to Him more than before.

God is always nearer than we think. He knows.

He cares.

God is concerned.

He hears our prayers and answers them according to His most perfect will.

Father, hear the cries of our hearts, deeper than our minds can perceive. Go beyond the cloudy, foggy thoughts and feelings, and get to the real issues within us. Holy Spirit, groan for us in inexpressible words and deliver us from ourselves and our plights. You know us more than we know ourselves. Thank you for caring for us all. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Unashamed Pilgrims

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Jesus was talking to His disciples about the hardships they were about to face.

No man escapes trouble. As followers of Christ, we want to learn to face these troubles well in the higher life we live with Him. Hardships are what show us what we’re made of. They test our true faith in God.

Each trial we go through seems to strengthen us for the next if we let it. Somehow the difficult circumstances turn into something productive and good in our lives. We come to a place of rest and trust in the Father. We experience His concern and care, no matter how long the wait.

In my old neighborhood, a large ash tree still stands in majestic splendor. We were told by the neighbors of an arborist they hired to save the tree from being destroyed. The tree was 300 years old and survived the borer insects that were killing the ash trees in the surrounding area. It survived not only the damage of the pesky insects but many more storms that came it’s way.

These wonderful trees along with the oaks, maples and others of solid, sturdy quality go through such blows and blasts in their great lives. They set their roots deep into the ground, making them stand stronger. Watch the trees during a storm. They bend, and then, once the storm is over, they bounce back, looking as if nothing has happened. They stand as does that 300 year old ash tree down the road (though, it needed a bit of help along the way).

So it is with us. When bad things happen because we are following Christ (who is our help) and not the world, we have the opportunity for so many things. We can:
Let our roots grow deeper in Him.
Aid our faith to be refined.
Know He is holding us up in times of storm.
Cry out more in our anguished prayers.
Love those He puts in our paths.
Stir us to a greater passion and zeal for His work.
Serve His people and even our enemies.

Jesus knew that the disciples would soon be going through persecution because of Him. There would be many who would come against His people, but He told them to,

“Take heart! I have overcome the world!”

One day the persecution would all come to an end, and His followers would be with Him in eternity. In the mean time, we, as did the disciples of old, live in a world that will have sorrow, but the sorrow will be blended with joy and peace (found only in Jesus) and of knowing that He has already won the victory. This peace is offered to us freely to receive if we so choose.

Why does the world need to be overcome?

Because it pulls at us to leave our position in Christ (to our own detriment). It works secretly, hidden in places we would never suspect. It calls us to come just as Jesus calls us to come. The world ways seem attractive, luring us to participate in what would seemingly make us ‘rich,’ ‘powerful’ and ‘beautiful,’ though our true riches, strength and beauty are found in Christ. It makes us feel we need to be part of it and included in its deception.

Yet, may we pull away from the world’s hold and pull all people towards Jesus, surrounding and saving ourselves in His protection from things that would tempt us. May we bear His name proudly as unashamed pilgrims who walk this earth, for a time, and lead many to Him.

Lord, your son, Jesus, lived His life in perfect harmony with you. Though He was pulled just as we are towards earth, He stayed close to His Heavenly Father and drew many to Him. He gave us an example of how to reject the world’s standards and to remain in communion with you. His death on the cross defeated Satan and therefore brought victory to all of us. We claim that victory and the peace He gives. Help us to remember how He has overcome the world and how to die to ourselves and to what the world has to offer. In Jesus name, Amen.