Monday, July 2, 2012

Rolling With the Changes

Numbers 20:1-21
We speak a lot about the immutable or changeless nature of God, and rightly so, but that may not always mean what we think it does. Take our account from the book of Numbers for example. First God tells Balaam to deny the request made by the emissaries of Balak. But later, "God came to Balaam and said to him, 'If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you to do.' So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab" (Numbers 22:20-21). At first glance it may appear that God has demonstrated an abrupt change of course in this story, contradicting an earlier word and no doubt causing Balaam some confusion.

As people of faith, however, this really shouldn't surprise us. In human terms what may seem like an obvious act of discipleship one day may need to be rethought the next, or a sense of call that leads us to embrace one form of ministry or outreach may wane leaving us to wrestle with what is next. Is God being fickle? Is God's will unstable? Does God have trouble making up the divine mind? No, God's will is constant and abiding, but how it presents itself in human history may leave us stymied, in part because we lack a view of the big picture and in part because we forget that God is dealing with us, creatures who can be very fickle, most unstable, and stubbornly temperamental. In other words, to be in relationship with God requires us to be adaptable precisely because we live with the certainty of God's presence and unfailing love.

Prayer: Lord, may we have the strength to trust you always and to follow in faithful obedience. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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