Lost In Sanity

Have you even wondered if the path you are on is the right one?

Have you ever been so worked up with frustration and anger that you made a snap judgment or a bad decision?

Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become booty; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?"  So they said to one another, "Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt."- Numbers 14:3-4

We have all encountered problems and come out of them, I'm sure, but as we see with Moses and the people under his leadership, staying the course can be difficult, even when the alternative is not good at all.

Some changes are easier to make than others.  We can do them because the consequences may not be that great, but there are those times when the risk is high that the outcome will be bad, and we follow that path anyway.

The Israelites were making an emotional decision in wanting to pick a new leader who will take them back to captivity.  But is that the best state of mind to be in when making such a big change?

They are angry, frightened and not the least bit rational.

Ah, you might say, the rational approach may not be clear, since staying in the desert doesn't seem like a good idea either.

It comes down to faith.

If I have faith in the belief that God is with me and his spirit will guide me, I can stay the course, but what if the course truly is wrong?  Jesus talks a great deal about the lost sheep, the one who may have thought he heard his master and followed the wrong voice.  How do I know that isn't what I am doing?

In today's reading, Moses turns to God for help.  He begs God to forgive the people and then he asks for help in leading them.

I think that is what I need to do when I am uncertain.  I need to call on God's help, and it will come.

Sound too simple?

Well, I think the clue to success is the second part of what Moses asked for, help in explaining to the people what he is doing and what they need to do.

It is one thing to follow God's call, but I also need to share that understanding with others, or they will have no way to know if I am sane or lost?

Without sharing what I am doing, I am lost in sanity.  And that may look like insanity to others.

"Trust me" is not the right response.

More to come...



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