This chapter and verse is fascinating for several reasons. I’m going to keep on being intrigued with the Old School (aka Old Testament) for probably the rest of my life due to this devotional track I’m bouncing along. One of the things that sticks out to me here is the fact that God continues to express his outright frustration with his people to the point of throwing up his hands (figuratively) and putting most of the current generation in permanent time out (literally). He’s tired of the people complaining, whining and throwing wrenches into the works that he simply tells them they will never see The Promised Land because they’ve been whiny little inconsiderate brats. Figuratively.
When I was growing up (yes Virginia, I did have a childhood) I did my share of what the Israelites did but I learned that despite everything I wasn’t going to get my way no matter how hard I tried to push the will of my parents with my pouting petulant pose. They wouldn’t budge. This is one of the many things my parents did right as I grew up. Considering that I’m (for the moment) a well adjusted late twenties bachelor gives proof that I was raised right. Except for the time my mother let me roll off a changing table in JC Penny…but who’s holding a grudge?
Kidding aside, God practices far too much patience with the stubborn and childish people that are His “Choosen” ones. Moses reminds his Creator that indeed He is “slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion” but God isn’t having none of it. He’s had it with them and he’s washing his hands of the toddlers. What’s hilarious (or depressing depending on how you look at it) is that some people decide they’re going to see it and forget God and all the things He told Moses.
The quote that makes me laugh out loud is found at verse 45 and it goes something like this, “Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.” You read it right. It was a beat down all the way to Hormah. And if you’ve ever been to Hormah you know what they’re talkin’ bout. It was a heckuva one sided battle. This could also be a cool t-shirt. ”I”ll beat you down all the way to Hormah.”
That’s for us Bible Geeks. That’s how we roll. Yo.
Anyway, the second part of this verse that stuck to my cerebral cortex was is a part of my devotion that asks, “How might God be calling you to live a different story – to be one who has a different spirit from others, who follows God passionately even though it might involve risks?” It goes on to ask if I would be willing to do so even if it meant earning less money and coming to be honest about the mistakes I’ve made getting where I am now.
This is a very topical (and honestly a terrifying) question for me. I’ve been fighting with this very issue in my heart, mind and soul. And having three part of your body fighting over something is never pleasant or exciting. I’m trying to get myself together to take one class in January but I think that’s going to slip by due to finances getting thrown down in front of a moving train. Then again what does that matter? Some would answer that I need to find a way to make it happen for if I want to serve God in a job that I love beyond belief and serves God to the ends of the Earth…I should do everything in my power to get there.
I’ve come to realize there’s a lot of things I need to change and open myself to between now and January. I’ve never been good with shuffling out of the comfortable little igloo I’ve built. My friend Sam basically took a sledgehammer to that over the weekend and made me realize I’ve tap danced enough. I’ve got to break the mold and light the sucker on fire and toss a Molotov or two in for good measure.
I’ve been turning a deaf ear to God for far too long. I’ve ignored his urging. I’ve ignored Him. Which is never a good thing. He tends to enjoy reminding me in the most unusual and galling ways.
So, let the adventure begin. I’m not really sure what that means entirely, but I think it’s time to break free. And that means I’m putting a youtube video below this to express how I feel. And because this song by Queen is simply astounding.
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