The Opposite of Belief is What??

Numbers 14:1-2 - So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!"

Israel had had it in their journey to the Promised Land. They began to complain, murmur and whine about their circumstances. What they perceived would be their outcome after being taken out of Egyptian captivity was not what they expected. It wasn't going according to how they thought it should. I will write occasionally about doubts, anxieties or fear. I know this is nothing really new, but obviously it's something we need to be reminded of every so often. We had another amazing service at church yesterday as Dr. John Bosman returned again and had a word for us as individuals and as a church.

Very briefly, Dr. Bosman spoke about Israel being taken out of bondage from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. We all carry around something from which we need deliverance. It can be physical, spiritual, emotional, financial... When we are delivered we are in victory. Sometimes the journey is a long one. Israel's journey should not have been physically long, but it ended up as 40 years of wilderness wandering because of their inability to let go of what held them in bondage. Their vision of what God had for them had been blocked and they looked back at what they believed had been a secure place, despite their oppression. They could not see He was providing everything they needed at that very time.

In our lives we want instant victory but sometimes, as Dr. Bosman suggested, we need to take the long route. It may be a wilderness and it might take time. That time is one of testing and lessons to be learned along the way. But...there is a way out. When we are in difficult times we tend to think on the past and how things were. We, like Israel, we lose sight of God's provision when we don't see immediate results. God will allow a wilderness to draw us back to Him, to teach us, and I believe to set various things in place for our victory. We've seen this happen in our church because of the unexpected death of a pastor some 18 years ago. So many times I heard about what it used to be like.

Dr. Bosman told us that Israel had come to their place of victory. It was an actual location where they were to cross over into the Promised Land. The place was called Kadesh-Barnea, which means holy or consecrated. This location happened to be in a wilderness area. Funny how it is in the wilderness that we becomes consecrated or made holy. Spies were sent out to check out the land. Of the twelve, ten returned with a message of fear, unbelief and hopelessness--impossibility. Only two came back with what God had instilled in them as a message of possibility, through Him. As Dr. Bosman stated, the majority is not always right. (I think I mentioned that awhile back in reference to something else!)

At this place of victory Israel complained and thought, mistakenly, about all the "great" things they had while they were in Egypt. They'd puffed up their belief in what they'd had and now were succumbing to unbelief in what God could do. They'd forgotten, already, that God had provided for them provision and protection so far on their journey. They'd forgotten...even though the presence of God was with them day by day.

So what is the opposite of belief? It's fear. How many times have I heard this? How many times have I also forgotten? If we are believers why do we allow lies to fill our heads about who we are in Christ? Why do we doubt what God is doing in our lives? Why do we obsess over things we cannot understand? Why don't we just trust God knowing His plans for our lives are good?

I feel I might be in that wilderness in one area of my life. It's been a constant questioning, wondering, doubting. In other words, fear that God is not doing what I'd like Him to do. And there's the rub....what I'd like Him to do. Dr. Bosman stated it won't happen according to our plan. How I keep forgetting. I have to get beyond myself and just let God work in my life instead of always "struggling" (which is a word I seem to be using a lot these days) to do what I think He would want.

I wrote previously about the vastness of our God, His greatness. If we can see what He's done in this world, even just through nature, why can't we believe He can do great things in each of us? Throughout our testing we are also to continue to praise and worship God. I'm convinced that when we remove the complaining about our circumstances and praise God for what He's doing, we'll better handle the wilderness.

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands...[be] confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ...For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope... (Psalm 138:8, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 1:6)

Father God, You are all that we need. You do provide and You do abide with us. You don't take leave of us; it is we who sometimes lose sight of You. I see why it is so important to live each day as it comes and praise You and trust that whatever that day holds it is part of Your grand plan for our lives. You are a great God with great plans for Your people--to bring victory in all areas of our lives. Lord, I thank You and it is in Your name I pray. Amen.

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