15 Feb Dependence…part one
You may know that I’m attempting to read the bible through chronologically in one year. It’s surprisingly going very smoothly thus far…but do not be fooled, I’ve made it this far once before. Exodus takes it out of me every single time though.
[Btw…who ever says God is not a god of details, has clearly never read Exodus. Just sayin’.]
I finished Exodus tonight and something jumped out at me like it hasn’t ever before…
Oh, what’s that? You’re wondering what it is? …well I’m very happy to tell you…
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels. {Exodus 40: 36-38}
And even better…
“When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD’s order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the LORD’s command they encamped, and at the LORD’s command they set out. They obeyed the LORD’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses. {Numbers 9: 19-23}
Whether you believe the actual words and implications of these statements is not really my point here. Whoever you are and whatever your inclination in beliefs are, can you imagine the intensity of not knowing whether you were going to be camping in a place one night or a whole month?
How do you pack for that?
Let’s say it’s your annual camping trip and your friend tells you he has the whole thing planned. You arrive, set up camp, enjoy your time there, go to sleep in your snuggly sleeping bag, and the next morning he says you’re moving to the another camp site. So you do it all again (with minimal grumbling) until two days later he says it’s time to move again. What? Can you imagine this going on indefinitely?
Well that’s what the Israelites did. They packed up, moved, and planted themselves solely based on God’s guidance.
That is serious dependence.
I thought to myself…being the creature of comfort (and control) that I am…”But…but…don’t they need to know, God!!? Don’t they need to have a plan or at least be able to make a plan if they want? …I would be so frustrated!!!”
…and I am. Every single day that I try to predict, navigate, and otherwise take the reigns of my own life. Utterly and completely frustrated.
…do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. {Matthew 6:34}
Yikes. What a stark contrast to my own life was their dependence on the leading of God. (Granted they didn’t always get it right…like…a lot. They didn’t get it right a lot.) But they followed with blind faith. Trusting. Following. Settling…but not for long. Knowing that they had no idea what the next day held.
And you and me? …we’re the same way. Minus the obvious cloud of fire. God is still alive and well. And leading. Prompting. Guiding.
Our only job is to follow. To live right now. In this moment. Knowing…he’s got it. He totally has it under control.
My plans. Worries. Distress. And anxiety will change it zero.
Dependent: the state of relying on or needing someone or something for support…the state of being conditional or contingent on something.
{from here}
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
[Philippians 4:19}
What/who are you depending on?
I’ll be honest…too often…it’s myself. Again…being honest…I’m not very dependable. I’ve disappointed myself on a plethora of occasions.
I can’t say the same for my Heavenly Dad who always seems to take such great care of me.
So why ever reach for control?
To be continued…
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