July 15, 2013
Central Truth
Most of the time, we are far more comfortable with the certainty of sin than the uncertainty of obedience to God.
Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out to the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you'; come with us and we will do you good, for the LORD has promised good concerning Israel." But he said to him, "I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives." (Numbers 10:29-30)
1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”
11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony, 12 and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time at the command of the LORD by Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies, and over their company was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies, and over their company was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. 22 And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
25 Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies, and over their company was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran. 27 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they set out.
29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the LORD has promised good to Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.” 31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. 32 And if you do go with us, whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same will we do to you.”
33 So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
In Numbers 10:29-30, Moses is inviting Hobab to be a part of God's promises of goodness to the Israelites. Instead of joining, Hobab says no because he'd rather go back home where he knows both the land and the people. His response might seem a bit crazy when we, as the readers, know that God is going to give the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey, but I think we relate far more with Hobab than we'd like to admit.
Hobab, like us, wants the comfort of what he's always known more than the discomfort of the unknown, even if God says the unknown will be better. How often have I chosen comfort over the promises of God? TOO often! It has been this idol of comfort that has kept me in a cycle of sin. I really am scared of the unknown outcome of life lived obediently to Jesus' commands, so I find myself clinging to some "pet sin" -- the sin that I really don't feel is that bad and is almost kind of nice to have around.
An easy example for me is body image. What would happen if I actually stopped idolizing working out or eating healthy? What if I gave up those "pet sins"? I'm sure my life would probably be filled with more joy, but what if more joy also means 70 pounds heavier? Vain and silly, I know, but it's an honest fear.
Put YOUR "pet sin" in its place, and be honest. Why won't you give it up? What are you afraid of?
I need to admit that I don't think God's definition of "good" is really all that good. It's definitely not my heart's definition of good, but who is more reliable?
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
In the end, my way is death (Proverbs 14:12), and His way is life (John 14:6).
I think I should let the Creator of the universe do the defining!
1. Where are the places in your life that you doubt His good is really better? How will you fight this unbelief with Truth? (Mark 9:24, Psalm 63:3)
2. What "pet sins" are you holding on to? Do you feel they are harmless? (Romans 6:23, Proverbs 14:12) Have you confessed them? (1 John 1:9, James 5:16)
3. Look back . . . in what ways has God proven to know what's truly best for you? How has He redeemed the past in your life and used it for good? (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)