T-89

As the Lord has revealed, so shall it be. As the Lord has spoken, so too shall it be.

Yesterday, I explored the concept of how God speaks to us today in ways that are different from how he spoke to Moses. And although different, he continues to speak. As I typed out my missive yesterday, my heart was lifted and my ears were pricked so that I was more attentive to hearing God than usual. That’s kind of sad in a way; that I’m not always attentive to hearing God. Note to self…. Pay attention!

Continuing from where I left off yesterday, there is the matter of what God said to Moses. Consider… Numbers 13:1-2 (NIV)
13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
[1]
Within verse 2 I see four important points. There are the matters of commissioning, faithfulness, giving and selection.

As to the matter of commissioning… we serve a God of action. Therefore it should come as no surprise that we are commanded to ‘send’ or ‘go.’ Though there are appropriate seasons of study and contemplation, ultimately God compels us to action. The command from God was purposeful and explicit. Moses is to ‘send some men to explore the land of Canaan.’ When God speaks, there is action and purpose.

As to the matter of faithfulness… the entire episode as revealed to us in Numbers is part of the ultimate fulfillment of a divine promise. God had promised to deliver the Israelites from their captors and did. God had promised to send them to a better place and here the Israelites are in the middle of the fulfillment of that promise. Don’t jump ahead! In this, we are reminded once again of the faithfulness of whom we serve. God is faithful.

As to the matter of giving… God said “which I am giving to the Israelites.” From this, we can discern that it is present tense and implies that it is already in progress “am giving.” The people did not see nor understand that the giving was already in progress! How like the grumbling Israelites we can be! The gift was already theirs before it was in their hands yet they were blind. Further, the sending of the men to explore the land was part of the giving. It was a matter of God saying ‘hey, look what is yours! Check it out!’ How often do we realize that our exploration or contemplation of God’s revelation is part of what He is giving or revealing? God gives not only the gift but also the anticipation of the gift, the wrapping of the gift, the gift itself and the remembrance of the gift. God is giving, yesterday, today, tomorrow and eternally.

As to the matter of selection… God’s instructions were “From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” God did not simply say “send some men…” and had Moses not paid attention to the full counsel of God, he may have sent someone unqualified for the task! God did not want the underlings to explore the land, he explicitly asked for the leaders to do the work. What manifold lessons there are in this concept! A leader doesn’t dispatch, a leader leads by example. God in his infinite wisdom prepares and appoints leaders for his purpose. When faced with ‘stepping out in faith’ who better to take the first step than the leader? God wanted the most faithful, most capable and most qualified men to lead their people by example and to obey his commands. God selects, equips and enables leaders whom he then calls to his service.

With respect to Camp Tsungani, God turned us out of our comfortable place. God had already prepared a place and a time for us. God spoke and the leaders listened. God said to send our leaders to explore the land (the camp) and we did. How fitting that our camp organizational units are tribes and that those who explored the camp (the Chiefs) are the tribal leaders. God called us into action, faithfully provided for our needs, gave us a solution (a wonderful solution) to our ‘camplessness’ and has already selected, equipped and compelled the leadership.

Inasmuch as the Israelites looked forward to occupying the Promised Land, I am looking forward to camp. Yet even now God has revealed to me that the ‘giving of camp unto me’ began a long time ago. So not only am I looking forward to the actual week of camp, I am looking forward to the additional aspects of camp which he will give me now, today and tomorrow. I recall the gifts already given, the joy of discovery, the fellowship of the Chiefs, Holy Communion in the new place, the beauty of the camp, the superior facilities, the decisions of how to allocate the resources and all the myriad answers to prayer. We serve an AWESOME God and my heart soars!


שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.