‘Wide Open Spaces’

It is with a bittersweet spirit that I write this Lesson – our final in the ‘I AM: So You Don’t Have to Be’ blog study. I hope you’ll be patient as I share a bit about what this process has meant to me.

I remember clearly coming home last March from our church women’s ministry retreat where I first presented this material and feeling God wasn’t finished with the message yet – not so much because He told me you needed to hear it, but because it required more time in my own heart to be a Word that would abide rather than be stored away on a shelf as a quaint memory of a great weekend with God and my girlfriends. He impressed upon me to spend more time in the Exodus account by writing the lessons out for this blog.

I had no idea how the idea of a blog study would be received by you, but I continued as a matter of obedience. When I shared my heart with my dear friend Iris, she was so incredibly supportive and even put legs to her encouragement by volunteering to make a study button. Thank you, Iris. You’ll never know what fire you’ve stoked in me!

One thing you can always know about anything I presume to teach is that God has already made my refining crucible melting hot before He ever lights a fire under yours. This study has been intensely personal. 1 Peter 5:10 is a favorite verse of mine. It says, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” This establishment Peter is referring to comes from a couple of Greek words that mean, “to set fast, to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or to confirm” and also, “to lay a basis for, erect, something put down as a substruction of a building”.

Girls, there are pillars our God is setting under our faith so that it will be one that does not shrink back nor is shaken. The idea that God is ENOUGH, that He is sufficient in every way so I don’t have to be is absolutely foundational for me in a way I didn’t comprehend before He led me down a very difficult road. Before this past year, I subconsciously believed I set my own pillars, that I had to be strong and in control so the house wouldn’t come tumbling down. So when the house did crumble in a most unexpected way I was left amidst the rubble holding on the only thing which still stood – the pillar of salvation. What is a girl to do when the walls fall in? The worst thing is to try to rebuild that thing on the same sand as before. We have to look to the Higher Rock and allow Him to be the substruction for every single thought, decision, action, word, and deed. It is only when our feet are set on this firm place that He can confirm the direction He has for our lives. This is the message of abundant living – being set on a right course in which we’ve traded all our dreams for God’s.

I am also very sentimental over today’s Lesson material as we will be focusing on Moses as he overlooked the Promised Land atop Mount Nebo. I think each of us have one person in Scripture with whom we feel a deep kinship. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been the girl at the bush stammering, “But, God! I can’t, God. I’m not good enough, God. Pick someone else, God.” This one thing I know through studying the relationship between God and His servant, Moses: It is SO not about me. Who am I to say my God is not enough to accomplish anything He wills through me? Satan will seek to turn our acceptance of a task into an issue of pride. If we say ‘yes’, will others think I think I’m good enough? And in all our looking at one another we have taken our eyes off the One whose glory will not be shared.

By the end of his long life, Moses had his eye on one person – the I AM, Yahweh, his Jehovah. Above all the names Moses could use to speak to God, perhaps the most precious to him was Friend. How else could he climb Mt. Nebo that final day of his life, knowing he would never return? I’ve read this last Chapter of Deuteronomy so many times always wondering what that scene must have been like. So, imagine my delight when I found the account of the day according to Jewish Tradition as recorded by Jocephus, a Jewish historian. Now remember, this is Jewish Tradition, not Scripture but captivating nonetheless. Just don’t get hung up on any extra-Biblical details.

With that said, get yourself a hanky and read Jocephus, Antiquities of the Jews 8:48-49 (*Note – scroll down to Chapter 8, verse 48-49. There was no link for these specific verses. I didn’t build them into the post for sake of space.)

Saying Goodbye

Being in ministry, Luke and I have had to say goodbye way more times than I like to count. The first time was when we left for college from the church we were both saved in the year before. Most of the years prior to my salvation, I hadn’t cried many tears. I was cold, strong, and self-controlled. The major work God did in my life in that first year after I was born again was simply to turn my black heart into a feeling, beating thing again. During our last Sunday at church, I cried every tear that had been penned up for the last ten. I didn’t think I would ever be the same again having to leave those people I had learned to love so much behind. BUT – a wonderful thing I’ve learned is this: Goodbyes are always followed by hellos.

I can only imagine the things in your own dear lives you’ve had to say goodbye to: loved ones, church fellowships, jobs, homes, dreams and expectations or perhaps many combinations of these. Based on what I know about God, I can safely say if He has allowed a goodbye in your life, He has replaced it with a hello you never asked for or imagined. What we are seeking in this last section of study is God as our Portion and the satisfaction for our souls.

There is no more beautiful picture of this concept than that of God and Moses alone on that mountain. Moses who had been a Prince of Egypt, a judge and prophet to millions and here he stood overlooking the Possession he’d sought for 40 years knowing he couldn’t enter. A lesser man would have been bitter and disappointed but Moses had come to know God Himself as his inheritance and salvation.

Though he would never step foot into what he believed to be God’s promise to him as well as the children of Israel, his joy was found in knowing his Canaan was about to be ultimately fulfilled. Just like Hebrews 11 tells us, we may not ever see the thing we believe God has promised us on this earth but our hope is in the ultimate rest of our Savior Jesus Christ. I believe I can also scripturally show you Moses looked forward to the rest of Jesus Christ as well. You are going to love this.

I want you to remember with me Moses’ Song in Exodus 15, particularly verse 2 which reads, “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him, My father’s God, and I will extol Him.”

Let’s look at the word ‘salvation’. The Hebrew for this word is ‘Yeshuwah’. For those of you who may not recognize this word, it is the Hebrew for Jesus! I have chill bumps each time I read its meaning, “something saved, i.e. a deliverance“. Okay, hold on because it gets better. The root word of ‘Yeshuwah’ is ‘Yasha’ and means “to be open, wide, or free. i.e. to be safe, to bring salvation, get victory.” The opposite of this word is ‘to be bound’. So what was Moses saying in his prophetic song? God has become my Jesus. He is my deliverance, my safety, my wide open spaces, my unbinding, my Promised Land.

It only makes sense that Moses would have been saddened by being told he could not enter Canaan, however, he didn’t need the ‘here’ because he looked ahead to his reward and persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27-28) Girls, sometimes God says ‘no’. It may be because of our own sin or more often simply because God is keeping us safe from circumstances we can’t possibly know. I love The Message version of 1 Peter 5:7, “Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.” He is careful with you. Oh I could just collapse in a heap in my Father’s arms knowing I am safe in His heart. He is careful with me because I am precious to Him. He doesn’t want anything to come my way that He hasn’t carefully planned. If I do have to experience the fire, He wants to go in first instead of having me run off on my own. Our Father is very careful. Very watchful. Very much in love.

The View From the Top

I live close to Chattanooga, Tennessee and one of our famous tourist attractions is Rock City. The site is perched on the side of Lookout Mountain and, if you believe all the marketing hype, you can look off and “See Seven States!” Along the landing, there are several stands with the metal binoculars that allow you to see for miles.

I always think of Rock City when I read how God called Moses to the top of Nebo and began showing him the Promised Land broken down into each tribes’ inheritance. As I prayed over this scene while I was walking just this week, the song ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’ came on my iPod (The Third Day version of course). I cried like a baby as I pictured Moses on that mountain looking over the Promise. In my own imagination, I believe Moses’ death came just as in the song, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His Glory and Grace.” As the earthly Canaan dimmed, the unfading one appeared. Oh, that we could all go out in such a whisper.

It’s Time

There is so much more that could have been said and so many better ways to have said it but I pray from the depths of my heart that God impressed at least one truth from this study that will indwell your spirit, abide richly, and change the way you move through this earth. I hope you know you are beautiful in God’s eyes. That you are enough because He is enough. That you have enough because He is your satisfaction. He is all that and more – so you don’t have to be.

Instead of our list of Burning Questions, I would like to leave you today with just one:

What is one thing God has taught you through this study?

Blessings on you!

‘Full Circle’

Key Text:

Numbers 14

Numbers 32:16-18

 

Ahhh..Finally!! Week Fifteen! You have been a patient bunch of girls. Life has been crazy busy around my house. I am so glad to be getting back to this study. Let’s get straight to it!

In Lesson 14, we alluded to the fact that sometimes we can feel we aren’t truly living in our place of Promise (or abundant, effectual living) simply because we are still fighting. We were able to spiritually map ourselves depending upon whether our struggles were centered on lack of faith/belief in God or the attacks of the Enemy. At this point in the study, we are so close to the Promise we can almost taste the milk and honey that flow there. Don’t stop now! If you are like me, the middle can be a much more comfortable place to be instead of within inches of the finish. I can use this study as an example. Only two lessons to go and I find myself stalling – not for lack of zeal but because in some weird way, I dread the let down when it is over. I don’t know how NOT to fight. For me, the days without struggle are the ones that breed laziness and apathy. It’s like being 5 lbs away from the goal on the scale or within a few payments of being out of debt. The last days are the most weary and we wonder if we’ll have strength to maintain the prize. Am I talking to anyone out there?

This week, we are going to revisit Numbers 32. This is the portion of Scripture where Moses is still alive but has already been told by God he would die before crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. As Moses’ last act of war, God has just executed vengeance upon Midian for their part in seducing Israel to idolatry. The spoils were divided amongst the tribes and the request arose from the sons of Reuben, Gad, and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh to be given the land east of the Jordan as their inheritance since it was a suitable place for livestock.

There are many events in the Exodus account that stir my heart – many of them regretfully skipped for sake of topic and time, but this particular scene is HUGE to me. Here we find ourselves in a familiar place, one the Israelites had been before. Once again as forty years prior, the nation is standing at the edge of the Promise and here are a small number who want to remain behind. The set up is reminiscent of Numbers 14 when the nation wailed over the reports brought back from the spies about the land and its inhabitants. Only Caleb and Joshua trusted God to go before them into the Land while the other ten spies discouraged the people by spreading doubt and fear. The ensuing rebellion cost Israel forty long years and the death of the entire generation – all because ten men did not trust their God to finish the work He had begun by leading them out of Egypt.

Was this about to be a replay of what had happened forty years earlier? Had Israel learned anything in their wanderings? Which leads us to ask ourselves the very same question: What wisdom are we gaining in our afflictions? How are we reacting differently when we are presented with circumstances which yesterday would have found us in rebellion against God? There comes a time, Girls, that something has got to give. We can live in this borderland the rest of our days but this is NOT the life Your God intended for you to live! How long do we have to flounder without yet learning to draw from the well of experience we have with our God in order to let His deliverances CHANGE the way we move through this life? AFFECT our decision making? MOVE us from bondage to abundance? When are we going to stop making the same ridiculous mistakes over and over and over? God can and will clear the way for you into abundance, but He can not take the steps for you. Just like the Israelites, the Promise is there waiting for the generation and more specifically, the woman who will be brave enough to possess it.

Moses had learned a thing or two about His God. He’d been found a pauper at the foot of Horeb and had returned with a multitude at his side to worship. He’d been one afraid to even speak and yet found himself singing praises to the God of Israel in front of millions. He had been one who believed his sufficiency rested in his position in Egypt but had been taught God’s I AM is very much magnified when we are not. Not beautiful. Not famous. Not enough.

As Moses stood before these tribes believing they were about to make the same mistake – again – we can only imagine the grief he felt in believing they still did not get it. No wonder he flipped his lid! “Now behold, you have risen up in your father’s place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the burning anger of the Lord against Israel. For if you turn away from following Him, He will once more abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.” (Numbers 32:14-15)

And what a relief when the tribes instead told Moses “you’ve got us all wrong! We just want to settle our families and livestock. We are going to fight alongside our brothers and will not return home until every Israelite has received their inheritance.” (vs. 17-18, my paraphrase) And yet, what should have come as an assurance was still met with some doubt. Moses knew this people and their propensity to go back on their words the moment the going got tough so he charged them in an oath saying, “you are free from obligation after all your brothers are settled in the Land. But if you do not do this, you have sinned against the Lord – be sure your sin will find you out.” (vs. 22-23) I read one commentary which stated this phraseology literally means, “your sin will hunt you down.”

We learn later these tribes held to their word and returned to their homes in peace and victory. Hear me on this one – they learned from the mistakes of their fathers and determined to act differently because of them. They had witnessed the destruction their unbelief had caused and chose to trust God instead of longing for the control of Egypt. That is what our lives are all about! Absorbing experiences, processing them through the balm of Scripture, and allowing them to color – in a healthy way – every decision, word, and deed that pours forth from our bodies. Scripture is clear that men and women are responsible for their own sin, but reality shows children often repeat the poor actions of their parents even when that action brought great pain. Even if you do not have a lineage of faith, can you be brave enough in the power of your God to break the yoke and be the first to stand for His Name? Your answer to this question will affect a multitude. What will you do?

Another thing I want to address before we end today is found in Joshua 22. In this Chapter, Reuben, Gad, and 1/2 Manasseh are settled in their inheritance across the Jordan from the rest of Israel after fulfilling their oath to the brothers. They then built an altar to God as a witness between them and the tribes living across the Jordan that they indeed were a part of Israel even though the River separated them. The Law of Moses strictly prohibited any altars at any location other than the Tabernacle. When the other tribes heard of this altar, they immediately prepared to go to war against Reuben and Gad to destroy them for their disobedience.

Goodness – talk about being a misunderstood group! First Moses, now the entire nation of Israel has questioned the faithfulness and integrity of these three tribes. Certainly their fathers had made many mistakes in the past, but the only thing these men were guilty of was asking for an inheritance on the fringe of the Promise.

This very much speaks to me in a personal way about our propensity as women to hold a mistake over some one’s head for a very long time after our sister has already paid the price for making it. The offense may not even be something that was truly worthy of being offended over, but by the time we blow that thing out of proportion the girl doesn’t stand a chance in the event of any misstep whatsoever. You may be that girl – the one who is constantly misunderstood or never feeling quite forgiven for something that was settled between you and God long ago. Can I encourage you this day? You be found faithful before your God and HE alone will be your justice. And girls, may we never be found guilty of lacking the same grace and mercy that has been poured on us time after time!

The Israelites were ready to go to war over a huge misunderstanding. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and the two sides were able to reconcile to one another. May we follow their example of Joshua 22:33, “The word pleased the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel blessed God.” No matter the offense, let’s commit to blessing God together for the sake of His Great Name.

We’ve got a few things to talk about so let’s get to Discussion!

Burning Questions:

1. I think we can all agree most of us find ourselves closer to God in the struggle than without it. How does it affect you knowing that trial is what draws you more intimately in relationship to Your God?

2. Have you ever made a huge mistake but then found yourself in the position for a ‘do-over’? Did you make a better decision the second or third or fourth time around? :)

3. Is there a ‘generational sin’ in your family you have overcome? This can be anything from a lineage of unbelief to issues of many kinds. This may be a private matter. Share if you feel liberty or quietly thank God for His deliverance. If you have not yet been delivered, I pray with all my heart God’s Word is giving you courage to ask for help in that area.

4. Have you ever been misunderstood? Do you feel unforgiven for past mistakes even though you know God has forgiven you?

5. Is there a sister you need to extend grace towards in order to be able to ‘bless God together’? Do you comprehend how your unforgiveness is hindering her from inhabiting her own Promise? If no, do you recognize a situation within your church body where this may be happening? If so, ask God to raise up a ‘Phinehas’ (mediator) in this situation. He may just reveal the Phinehas is you. :)

I look so forward to our discussion this week – It’s so great to be back on track! :) Don’t forget to link to your Study Post, not your homepage, if you are placing your answers on your blog. As always, you are more than welcome to leave your thoughts in the Comments!