You’ve been on this mountain long enough…  we have all had moments in our lives where change and transition urged us forward—whether we were ready or not.  This is part of the push and pull nature of transitions.  A few weeks ago, I shared some insights from Deuteronomy 1 that God has used to encourage me to get moving with a “believe it then see it” mentality.  If you missed part 1, scroll down two posts or click  January 21 on the calendar located on the side bar.

God’s Instructions

In this passage, the Israelites have arrived at the edge of something new—a place God had promised was His hand-picked destination—the Promised Land.  You will remember that they sent some spies to check things out…and they came back with a mixed report.  Remember they had three instructions—here is THE LIST:

• Get going.
• Take possession of this new place.
• Do not fear or be dismayed. (ie  trust God to be faithful)

You will notice that sending out spies to bring back analysis and reports is not on this list. Just saying…

Let’s peek a little further into this first chapter of Deuteronomy as Moses recounts mistakes of the past:

“…they brought us back a report and said, ‘It is a good land which the LORD our God is about to give us.’²⁶ “Yet you were not willing to go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; ²⁷ and you grumbled in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us…”–Deuteronomy 1:25-27

Reactions of Fear

This is not looking like THE LIST above!  Here is the reality check of their reaction:

• Not willing to go
• Rebelled..ie refused to go…
• Grumbled, complained, found fault, and worked themselves into a fearful tizzy.

Do you notice the over-reaction of their emotions?  I am struck with a feeling of familiarity as I notice the downward spiral of emotional thinking.  How did they get from, “It’s a good land…to “the Lord hates us”…to he purposefully brought us here to destroy us…  The bottom line of this kind of thinking had some very serious repercussions for the Isrealites—thier  trust in God gave way to the flood-tide of suspicion that sprang forth from their insistence that they “see it in order to believe it.”  The end result was missing out on God’s best, while they wandered for 40 years.  The purpose of an entire generation was forfeited when emotions replaced faith and refusal replaced obedience.

Can You Relate?

It can be easy to think, “Oh you silly Israelites…” until I remember times when  my thinking has spiraled in uncertainty and I have struggled to believe that God has a good purpose in this or in that challenge.  I don’t know about you, but at this point in the story, I know that too often I have found myself in a similar  thought process and ended up in an emotional mess.

As you think about transitions  in your life, have you ever had those days where what you think you see is overwhelming?  Have you sent out your spies and found out there are some problems that seem bigger than you have the energy or ability to tackle?   Has your vision shifted from God’s faithfulness to the size of a giant’s foot?  Don’t let it hold you back.  If God has lead you to that place of transition, hang on to faith and step forward.  You just might find the adventure of a lifetime.

Here’s a bit of truth—

• What you look at is what you will see.
• What you think you see can easily become what you believe.
• What you believe dictates how you will respond and what you will do.

Join me next time as we talk God’s faithfulness in our challenges and transitions as we continue looking at Deuteronomy 1.