Inevitably,
trouble will invade our lives: A bad report from a medical test, the betrayal
of a trusted friend, a child who rejects us, or a spouse who leaves us. The
list of possibilities is long, but there are only two options: forge ahead on
our own, or turn to God.
Flying
solo into the face of trouble is not a good idea. It can lead to bad behavior
patterns, blaming God, and retreating into defeat. Like the Israelites, we may
spin out of control and into despair (Num. 14:1-4).
When the
majority of the spies brought a report of intimidating giants and dangers
ahead, they used the pronoun “we” seven times with no reference to the Lord
(13:31-33). The Israelites were on the cusp of the ultimate blessing that God
promised to them. They were eyewitnesses to the miracles in Egypt and their
feet had walked the dry bottom of the Red Sea in jaw-dropping victory. God’s
faithfulness had been amazingly evident. What short memories! What
disappointing faithlessness! Sadly, they turned their backs on God and left the
blessing behind.
Caleb and
Joshua, on the other hand, opted to turn to the Lord with this confidence: “The
Lord is with us” (14:9). When your
giants show up, what will you do?
God’s
presence is a life preserver that keeps the soul from sinking in a sea of trouble. (RBC)
