Where am I?

Scriptures: 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)

Last year, when taking my family, especially my son, to visit the University of California, Riverside, I made a wrong turn. That split second decision took us for a drive for about half an hour before I finally decided to stop at a gas station to ask for directions.

All the way before I found the gas station, I kept wondering, “According to the map, it shouldn’t take so long. Why aren’t we there yet?” I kept looking for signs of roads, hoping to find something familiar, something that could give me a point of reference so I would know what to do next. But nothing seemed helpful. “Where in the world are we?” “I think we are lost!”

It was a very uncomfortable feeling, knowing that we were lost and not being able to change it. As much as my efforts were, trying to assess where we were and what to do to correct the situation, nothing in that foreign place seemed to be meaningful and helpful. That is, of course, until we saw that gas station where the friendly clerk gave us clear directions to our destination. Then, in about 10 minutes, we were in the University of California, Riverside.

Life, in many ways, is just like a trip into foreign lands. We keep running into new circumstances that we have never been to. We do the best we can to assess the situation to help us determine what to do next. But, since it is a situation totally new to us, we have very little, if not none, experiences to go back to for reference and for pointers.

Israelites, in today’s passage, were in the same situation. They were promised a land and desired to move in and take over the land. But the land was occupied and they had no prior knowledge of what it was like. So, they wisely decided to send people to explore the land. Their delegates accomplished the mission and came back with their reports.

Unfortunately, the reading of the situation was divided. Most of them believed they were not strong enough to take the land because everything they saw there were culturally and militarily much stronger than they were. Only Caleb and Joshua insisted that, with the help of God, they could take the land.

Why were they able to come up with such a different reading? Because I believe their views of the things in life were framed in the context of God. The reality was out there. People of that land were taller and stronger. Their weapons and cultural achievements were more advanced. These were all true. But, there’s more to it that the other 10 spies did not take into account. On top of all these realities, God was the most important reality these 10 spies forgot.

It was the same circumstance they faced. But, see how different results there were for the different readings they had. How we view things do impact our lives significantly. Our decisions, plans, the course of actions, and the resulting destiny were all affected. We cannot be too careful with the view we have for life and, more importantly, for God.

Life is just like a journey in a foreign land. We find our own experiences and knowledge so insufficient. Our fear of making mistakes clouds our thinking. Different people and schools of thoughts provide conflicting and confusing assessments of current situations and make it harder to move forward in the godly manner pleasing to God. Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming that it seems hopeless.

But, we need not be hopeless. God said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” (Isaiah 46:10) When everything and everyone else fails, we know God is still in charge. He is still the same all-knowing, loving and faithful God for eternity! He said, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:10)

He has not changed. Neither should our faith and commitment to Him! Let’s come to Him now and submit our views and our lives to Him. He has promised blessings from Him that, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)

Prayer Requests:
For those searching for directions in life

Prayer:
Our Abba Father, thank You for being mindful of us, even when we are of little faith. You know how little we know about this life You have blessed us and how incapable we are to make it on our own. Please help us to be reminded time and again that, in spite of what our situation seems to suggest, You are always in charge and that Your faithfulness is the foundation of our relationship with You. Help us not to lose sight of You in every decision we make in life. In the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!