If you have not discerned by now the story of the Promise (the Promise of God to Release, Renew and Restore God's world so that humanity can love God, love neighbor and steward creation) is one that lives what appears a very roller coaster like existence. One minute everything looks rosy; the Promise is at work in the world. The next minute the Promise appears to be in danger of being lost in the trials and tribulations of those people who carry it. While we hope that God's love and power will insure that the Promise is brought to completion, the Biblical tale of the promise is one that makes us wonder if humanity is capable of being an effective partner in this endeavor.
This week's story is one that shines a very bright light on the struggle of human beings to keep the Promise alive. When we last left the people of God, the carriers of the Promise, they had been set free from the slavery in which they had been held. We might think that the people would be so grateful for this freedom that they would do anything that God asked of them. As we will discover that was not the case.
Following their liberation the people of God were asked to do two things. The first was to be faithful to God and the second was to enter into the Land of Promise, in which they would be safe. They would not be willing to do either.
The first request of God, to be faithful, was ignored almost immediately. The people made a stop in the wilderness at Mt. Sinai where God was going to give them the Law, the rules by which they could live and be the people of the Promise (Exodus 19 – 34). While Moses was away receiving the Law, the people decided find another god. Turning to Aaron (Moses' second in command) they requested he make a golden calf for them that they might worship it rather than the God who had set them free (by the way archeologists have found similar golden calves dating from the time of the Exodus). Needless to say neither Moses nor God was pleased by this and there were consequences meted out.
The second request of God, to enter the Land of Promise, was also ignored. Moses sent spies into the Land of Promise. Their report was positive (it is a land flowing with milk and honey) and negative (there are giants there who live in fortified cities!). The people decided to hear only the negative and refused to enter the land (Numbers 13:17-14:25). At this point God has had it with the people. God's decision was that the people would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until almost all of the rebellious generation had passed away and God could start afresh.
My guess is that there are times when we feel as if we are wandering in the wilderness…as if there is little purpose or direction to what we do as a faith community. We go through the motions, doing good things, but in the end as one person described it, "It is like we are a cruise ship circling the harbor, but not really going anywhere." The challenge that is before us, as we vision, is to listen to the two commands given to the people after they have been set free. We are to be faithful to God; listening to God's call upon our lives rather than the competing claims of society. We are also to be seeking God's leading as to the direction we are to be going; asking, what kind of church are we to become that we might be co-workers with Christ in releasing, renewing and restoring God's world? So my friends as we enter 2010 let's get on the road and see where God is leading us.
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