When will we turn back to God?

We’ve been looking at some of the earliest stories of people walking (and not walking) with God.  They were shown God’s beautiful picture (design) for their lives.  Then, someone else presented alternatives to that picture (design).  When they chose God’s picture, they enjoyed the benefits and blessings of God’s design.  When they chose the alternatives, they suffered the consequences of those choices.

“Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years--a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have Me for an enemy.” (Numbers 14:34 NLT)

These early stories (Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, Noah and the Ark, The Tower of Babel, etc.) were originally told by people who understood the consequences of choosing an alternative to God.  These Israelite parents and grandparents are teaching their children and grandchildren to do better than they did.  They are trying to teach the next generation to actually walk together with God.

When Moses reported the LORD's words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. "Let's go," they said. "We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD has promised us." (Numbers 14:39-40 NLT)

Walking with God is a step by step, moment by moment journey.  When God says walk, we walk.  When God says go straight, we go straight. When God says turn, we turn. When God says stop, we stop.  As God’s instructions change, our walk and pace must change to match God, otherwise we find ourselves fighting against God.

But Moses said, "Why are you now disobeying the LORD's orders to return to the wilderness? It won't work. Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the LORD is not with you. When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD." (Numbers 14:41-43 NLT)

The Israelites learned that the hard way.  They did not go when God said, “Go.”  Then, when God said, “Turn around and go back,” the Israelites decided that they wanted to go.

But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD's Covenant left the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah. (Numbers 14:44-45 NLT)

When we find ourselves working against God in this way, there is only one question left: “When will we turn back to God?”  We are off of God’s path.  We are out of sync.  God is moving in a different direction and we are the ones who need to change course.  God is God.  We are not.

How about you?  Do you ever find yourself out of “sync” with God?  When you recognize it, do you change course to match God?  Does it bring you peace again?