My mum loves this book called ‘Messy Spirituality’. And ‘messy!’ is the word that I thought
of when reading Numbers 14 recently.
God had led His chosen people out of slavery, to freedom, but they hit a
snag, the journey ahead was looking too hard and they were giving up. The Bible records that the people ‘plotted among themselves, [saying]
“Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”’ (v 4). Back to everything God had rescued them
from.
No wonder then that God was getting a bit sick of their lack
of trust and faith in Him. Moses
was there trying to keep everyone happy and eventually a compromise was reached
– the people could stay as God’s people but, that generation at least, wouldn’t
receive God’s promises.
Perhaps the mess could have been contained there, but the
Bible tells us that -
‘…When Moses reported the LORD’s words to all the
Israelites, the people were filled with grief. Then they got up early the next
morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We
realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD
has promised us.” But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the LORD’s orders
to return to the wilderness? It won’t work. Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by
your enemies because the LORD is not with you. When you face the Amalekites and
Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD will abandon you
because you have abandoned the LORD.”
- Number
14 v 39 – 43
Sure enough they ignored him, off they went and crushed they
were.
It’s just a big mess, don’t you think? A mess full of lack of trust and
faithlessness; not listening; thinking they could make it right on their own;
changing from day to day; thinking the certainty of slavery was better then the
gift of freedom.
But you know what?
As I say these words I don’t know who I’m talking about any more – the
Israelites or me. My story of
faith is full of lack of trust in God.
Of believing in myself above Him.
Of not listening and making as much of a mess of trying to put things
right as I did in putting things wrong in the first place. I am in a state of messy
spirituality. Yet it doesn’t
matter. Because the Bible says we
are made right with God through Jesus.
And ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’ (Hebrews
13 v 8). Praise the Lord!
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