Sometimes LIFE just says, "No."
In Numbers 20 things don't go much better from Moses' failure to the next scene. Miriam dies in verse 1, Moses fails to honor God and loses out on the Promised Land and now another setback looms on the horizon.
Numbers 20:14–17 (ESV) Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
Perhaps Moses is utilizing some of the diplomacy he experienced while in the household of Pharaoh. Will it work? What is the answer?
A resounding "No."
Evidently the nation of Edom was still harboring a grudge over the ancestral feud. Though Moses retries the negotiation, Edom eventually comes against Israel with their entire army. Bad blood still reigned even though the brothers reconciled. It would continue for centuries. When Israel is conquered by Babylon it is Edom that helps capture and hand them over! Incredible.
It made me think about this. Sometimes life just says, "No." We cannot attribute this "no" to God. God is not mentioned in Edom's consideration or answer. Moses does not clarify the why of this "no" and we are left scratching our heads in view of such unrelenting hostility. Sometimes life says "no."
Think of this: Israel gets this "no" in this moment because of something that happened hundreds of years ago. In life, we will experience the exact same thing. The world is collapsed because of sin. Every day we wake up with present hostilities rooted in ancient conflicts. Before you were born, chances are good, there was an entire race that already didn't like you, mistreated you or misunderstood you. Right now you may be struggling with the same addiction your parent had. Your town may label you because of something your grandfather did. It wasn't something YOU made happen, it was something you inherited. And because of events LONG before you existed - TODAY - life says, "No."
How does Israel react? Simply.
Numbers 20:21 (ESV) Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
They simply turn away. I think what doesn't happen here speaks volumes for us. They don't wage war, they don't take the bait of this ancient feud. They could have fought and perhaps won another war here. They don't. They turn away. Not every fight needs to be taken. You don't need to die on every hill. When you see hostility that you had nothing to do with, it may be the best choice to swallow your pride and let the fires of hatred die with you.
I thought about Edom here too. I don't want to be a modern day "Edom." I don't want to be someone else's "no" because of something that happened in my past. For instance. I may hold a grudge against a certain kind of person because they remind me of someone who hurt me. I'm being just like Edom in that situation and someone else's life, through no fault of their own, is going to be taxed because I can't get over what someone else did a long time ago. Don't be someone else's no! Jesus is God's "YES!" Embrace the fact that because He said YES, you don't have to say so many "no"s throughout life. In the end, people will like you a whole lot more.
I know we are filled with the message, "never take no for an answer." But that advice is impossible. Sometimes no's are NOT avoidable. It reminds you of this broken world. It points us to the cross which reconciles us to God so that we might have peace with Him. He'll take care of us when we can't go in a certain direction. He will lead us around the "no". Move forward and keep marching.
Moses has to lead the people of Israel through the territory of Edom. These are the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob. Most are familiar with the heated nature of that relationship but also how the two brothers resolved their differences in the end.
Moses knows well this tenuous relationship and acts incredibly diplomatic sending a nicely worded transcription to Edom's leaders.
Numbers 20:14–17 (ESV) Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
Perhaps Moses is utilizing some of the diplomacy he experienced while in the household of Pharaoh. Will it work? What is the answer?
A resounding "No."
Evidently the nation of Edom was still harboring a grudge over the ancestral feud. Though Moses retries the negotiation, Edom eventually comes against Israel with their entire army. Bad blood still reigned even though the brothers reconciled. It would continue for centuries. When Israel is conquered by Babylon it is Edom that helps capture and hand them over! Incredible.
It made me think about this. Sometimes life just says, "No." We cannot attribute this "no" to God. God is not mentioned in Edom's consideration or answer. Moses does not clarify the why of this "no" and we are left scratching our heads in view of such unrelenting hostility. Sometimes life says "no."
Think of this: Israel gets this "no" in this moment because of something that happened hundreds of years ago. In life, we will experience the exact same thing. The world is collapsed because of sin. Every day we wake up with present hostilities rooted in ancient conflicts. Before you were born, chances are good, there was an entire race that already didn't like you, mistreated you or misunderstood you. Right now you may be struggling with the same addiction your parent had. Your town may label you because of something your grandfather did. It wasn't something YOU made happen, it was something you inherited. And because of events LONG before you existed - TODAY - life says, "No."
How does Israel react? Simply.
Numbers 20:21 (ESV) Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
They simply turn away. I think what doesn't happen here speaks volumes for us. They don't wage war, they don't take the bait of this ancient feud. They could have fought and perhaps won another war here. They don't. They turn away. Not every fight needs to be taken. You don't need to die on every hill. When you see hostility that you had nothing to do with, it may be the best choice to swallow your pride and let the fires of hatred die with you.
I thought about Edom here too. I don't want to be a modern day "Edom." I don't want to be someone else's "no" because of something that happened in my past. For instance. I may hold a grudge against a certain kind of person because they remind me of someone who hurt me. I'm being just like Edom in that situation and someone else's life, through no fault of their own, is going to be taxed because I can't get over what someone else did a long time ago. Don't be someone else's no! Jesus is God's "YES!" Embrace the fact that because He said YES, you don't have to say so many "no"s throughout life. In the end, people will like you a whole lot more.
I know we are filled with the message, "never take no for an answer." But that advice is impossible. Sometimes no's are NOT avoidable. It reminds you of this broken world. It points us to the cross which reconciles us to God so that we might have peace with Him. He'll take care of us when we can't go in a certain direction. He will lead us around the "no". Move forward and keep marching.
Comments
Post a Comment