Obedience In The Face Of Difficulties
can bring great reward, or fail to and severe punishment
'Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” ' Joshua 22:1-5
there is a book called “A Long Obedience In The Same Direction” by Eugene Peterson that i got a while back and feel it has the same relevance here. here’s is one of the many quotes from his book:
“Our lives are lived well only when they are lived on the terms of their creation, with God loving and us being loved, with God making and us being made, with God revealing and us understanding, with God commanding and us responding.”
the challenge for many is the last part of that quote - responding to God when told to do something, whether we like it or want to or not. these verses and those to follow discuss the various tribes, their leaders, its people, and their faithfulness by trusting in The Lord and doing what they were commanded. also friendly reminders to be obedient, cling to Him, and serve Him wholeheartedly.
for in doing so, they were rewarded with rest in the land they were promised and the spoils from defeating israel’s enemies. others were questioned on their loyalty to following the one and only, true God and, where a misunderstanding would have led to bloodshed and/ordestruction, there was unity, rejoicing, and the worshipping and praising of God.
when you’ve dealt with disappointment and discouragement as the israelites have, you may wane in your belief, focus, and commitment understandably. while they placed much of it on their backs for not following what God had told and taught them, He is still faithful and loving and demonstrated that by giving them what was promised.
excerpt from sam ashmore’s review on In All Things’ website:
The book teaches the Christian disciple to see “blessing” or “heaven” all throughout the journey, not simply at the end of it. One can understand how hurry and the desire for the instant forces the eyes forward on progress and striving, but a long obedience in the same direction trains the eyes to see blessing in the present and to abide in God each moment.
i really like this explanation and feel i have overlooked ‘the blessing’ on many occasions because i was so caught up with what is in the moment that i didn’t give thanks or offer praises to our Lord for what He has done or for walking alongside me while i was going through whatever it is. basically taking me from the desert to green pastures.
instead of only looking at things only on a macro-level or only for the future, i can enjoy the here and now and want to be in the presence of Jesus every moment of my life. to live out our lives following what we are taught in The Bible, believing in The Word of God and placing our trust that what was promised then applies to us today.
dear Heavenly Father, thank you for always being there for us. teach my family and i to enjoy every moment - the good and the bad - and receive your blessings when they come. help us to be prepared, to be faithful, be obedient, and to do as you command us. may your love flow in and through us Jesus so other who do not know you will call upon you as their personal Lord and Savior. in your Mighty and Holy name i pray, amen!