...No, We Won't Go

Passage: Numbers 14:1-20

I’ve begun reading a novel about a woman incarcerated for having killed two people while driving drunk. In the first months of her prison term she is invited to an AA meeting. She’s well aware of her addiction. But she has always reveled in it. And she doesn’t want to give it up. Prison has forced her to dry out. But she has every intention of going back to the very “party hard” lifestyle that landed her in trouble in the first place.

In Numbers 14 the Israelites are about to enter the land that God has promised to give them. The only thing they’re waiting for is the report of twelve men – spies that have been sent ahead to scout out the land. A basic formality before they take possession.

Trouble arises when the spies give their report. “The land is exactly the way God described it,” they say, “It’s lush and fertile. Almost perfect, except for one detail. It’s inhabited by giants.” Ten of the spies go on to say, “If we try to take this land, we’ll be obliterated.” The Israelites’ response is immediate. They weep and wail and say, “Has God brought us all the way here just to finish us off? If only he’d left us in Egypt!”

Now this isn’t the first time God’s people have said this, and it won’t be the last: If only God had left us in Egypt. Life was good there. Life was comfortable. We had food. We had shelter. No giants. What they fail to factor in is that they were slaves there. But apparently they’d prefer a life of predictable slavery than the uncertainty of being led into uncharted territory by an unseen God.

God is in the business of settling people free. He does it for the Israelites. He does it for his people today. But like the Israelites, we are often resistant to being led to freedom. Like injured dogs who refuse to go into the pet carrier to be taken to the vet, we kick and fight to stay enslaved – enslaved to buying clothes and furniture on credit; enslaved to bad television; enslaved to taking out our anger on the people closest to us; enslaved to immersing our worries in booze or pornography or chocolate. We want to go back to the stuff that comforts us when we’re down, knowing full well that stuff has taken ownership of us. God reaches in and pulls us out, but we dig in our nails and hold on as long as we can.

At the threshold of the Promised Land the Israelites say, “No, we won’t go. It’s too scary. It’s unchartered territory. We don’t know what will happen. Bring us back to that other place. The place we know.” And God says, “Fine, have it your way. You won’t experience the freedom that I promised you.” This is, of course, the worst punishment God could give – to give the people what they’re asking for.

God still does this for people – gives them what they’re asking for. If people say, enough times, “God, leave me alone,” God obliges. If you say, “God, I don’t want to be free of my favorite vice or beloved habit” God says, “Have it your way.” God offers freedom, but he won’t force it on you if you don’t want it.

God offers freedom. Don’t make the mistake the Israelites did. Say yes to God’s offer. Take the chance. The territory ahead is uncharted. But I guarantee that God goes ahead of you. When God promises to lead you out of your slavery, he will be with you every step of the way.