This morning I opened to 2 Samuel 2. David is at a crossroads. The army of Israel has been soundly defeated by the Philistines, and King Saul and his sons have fallen in battle. David and his men have been living in Ziklag, a town given them by one of the Philistine commanders he had been serving before the battle, but now he is at a decision making crossroads. The Bible doesn't specify, but my guess is he was expecting an eviction notice from the Philistines, and needed a plan.
After all this, David prayed. He asked GOD, "Shall I move to one of the cities of Judah?"
GOD said, "Yes, move."
"And to which city?"
"To Hebron."
So David moved to Hebron, along with his two wives, Ahinomam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David's men, along with their families also went with him and made their home in and around Hebron.
As I went to journal this passage, I planned to ask God what my next move was. But before I could get it on paper in my journal, God brought to mind a common situation with my daughter. When she was in her early teens, I would go to her and tell her we were going on a Daddy-Daughter Date, and to get in the car. The trouble is, my daughter is a Grade-A planner and over-thinker. She wanted details before she agreed to do it. She wanted to know why. She insisted on knowing which particular places we were going to, what we would be doing there, how long we would stay at each location, and what time we would return home. She wanted to approve of all the plans before she would agree to go. Except, she wasn't actually in charge. She thought it was a negotiation. It wasn't. What she really cared about was her big To-Do list. She had that day in her life already planned out, and I was overturning her apple cart. And the uncertainty of it all and the unreasonableness of my demand would stress her out!
She didn't understand that I had GOOD things planned for her-- better things, in fact, then the day she had planned for herself already. We were going to the animal shelter to love on the kittens, to the coffee shop to have coffee and pastries, and to Hobby Lobby to buy jewelry-making supplies. She was going to love it! She just needed to put shoes on and get in the car.
Often, I am this way with God. I want to know just what God has in mind-- every last detail-- before I agree to do it. Except that's not the relationship we have. I'm not actually in charge. He is. Occasionally He will tell me details, but usually He just wants me to get in the car.
If you look back at the bible passage, God DID give David specific directions in this situation.
"Should I go?" David asked. "Yes, go." God replied. "And to what city?" David asked. "To Hebron" was God's response. Okay, cool. But notice what God didn't tell David... God didn't say how long he would be there, or what would happen after he arrived, or where he would go to next. Why not? Because he didn't need to know yet.
In my own life, I sense that my current situation will be changing-- that my time in Ziklag will be coming to an end. But I don't know when, or how, or what that means exactly. "Okay God, now what?" I ask. "Where are we going?" In response, God brings to mind the new part time job I have agreed to start next week.
Me: But then what, God?
God:
Me:
God:
Me: Okay. (Sigh.)
I want to know all the details. What exactly does God intend to change in my life and circumstances? But God doesn't want to tell me right now. He just wants me to start the job and just live my life, and he will inform me of the step after that when the time comes.
He wants me to trust him, and just get in the car. Even if my carefully arranged schedule goes out the window.
Words well written