Where is the Lord leading us?

There are no coincidences in this life. Many of us are at a place where God is moving us in a new direction. Numbers 9:15-23 speaks of how when the cloud moved, Israel moved and when it stood still, so did Israel. Numbers Chapter 11: 24-29 tells us that after Moses cried out to God that these complaining people were too much for him to handle, God put His Spirit upon 70 elders, two of whom, Eldad and Medad did not even go when called by Moses to receive it.

How can we put these two seemingly different stories together? For me they clearly demonstrate that it is God who does the leading and not man, that it is God who decides upon whom His Spirit will rest, not us. This theme of God choosing us and not us choosing Him is pervasive in Scripture. Jeremiah 31:31, Ezekiel 36:24-28 also continues on this theme where it is God who changes our hearts, takes away our heart of stone and puts His Spirit in us so that we may then follow Him. We are in the process of the fulfillment of these prophecies. In this way our Creator equips us to follow HIM.

How can we as believers view these verses?

Whenever we as humans take it up ourselves to change the meaning of these verses in order to make them universal, then God's chosen people are sacrificed in the process. Why would we do that? Because our nature cries out…it's not fair. Why are they chosen and not us? We simply cannot tell God what to do or who to choose, it is always He that does it. It is natural that we as humans want to feel secure and comfortable, to think that we are capable enough to handle matters ourselves. When God begins His work of change in us, He begins to strip us naked spiritually, so to speak so that in the process we can fully come to trust in Him and not in ourselves. This might have been the case with Eldad and Medad who could have been so humble that they thought they were not worthy to go when called by Moses. When we realize that it is God who chooses us, like He chose them, even before we were born all responsibility and the ensuing pride are removed and replaced with an excitement that comes from knowing that the Creator of the universe has selected us and transforms us daily into being more like Him.

What is it that makes us so afraid to allow God to do this in our lives? Do we think that God is a sadist or a party pooper trying to destroy us? I knew a couple once who prayed that God would use them and that they would be willing to go anywhere but to Africa. One day, they were called to go to Africa. When they finally gave in to the will of God, their joy was abounding and their experience so rich. God only wants the best for us and He alone knows the outcome.

Remember that Israel although slaves felt secure in Egypt. They did not necessarily want the change that was foisted upon them and this resulted in all the complaints to return to the onions and garlic. Change can be frightening especially when we live under the protection of self. God has a way of forcing us out of our comfort zones and our struggle comes when we stubbornly continue to want to lead ourselves instead of allowing Him to do the leading. When God's Spirit is in us, we are endowed with His divine qualities but it is important to remember that we are not God. Our ways are not His ways; our thoughts are not His thoughts. There are too many megalomaniacs in this world who believe that they are the center of the universe. They speak with such authority making themselves larger than God. It is such as these who distort the Word of God, defining God instead of following Him. Perhaps we had some good spicy food the night before and we wake up with our minds working overtime. At that moment, our own ideas may seem so great and we think they are from God. Remember what Peter said…no prophecy is of personal interpretation. God always interprets Himself.

God does not choose us because we are such wonderful and smart human beings; rather He chooses us who are nobody and made us into somebody. We need to realize how special we are to Him. God made us to have a unique relationship with Him which is born out of true forgiveness of our sins. When we are finally broken of the bondage of self centeredness, we can do true teshuvah and return to Him.

In the desert, God was in the process of making Israel into a nation, of cleansing and remaking us. This process took time. It is the same with us today. When the Messiah becomes part of your life, God begins the process of cleaning house. He is our cloud by day and our fire by night. He is with us eternally. He doesn't say that He will be with us only if we behave well. How many times could He have chosen to abandon Israel due to her rebellion? He could easily have made another people.

The lesson of this week is to understand that we are never alone. God like the cloud by day and the fire by night is with us wherever we go. He has always been faithful and has always set the direction for where we are to go.

At this time the direction may not be clear. Search your heart as you ask yourself these questions:
- Where is God leading me?
- Is God in the middle of my plans for the future?
- What is God trying to tell me?
- What is holding me back from trusting Him?

Remember Romans 8:28…"all things work together for good for those who are chosen by God and called according to His purpose…"

Allow God to lead you.

   May God add blessings to His Word.

     Rabbi Percy Johnson
     Netanel ben Yochanan
     [nxy [b lantn

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     Kehilat She’ar Yashuv