Comfortable Campsites

“The LORD our God spoke... ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.  Turn and set your journey, and go…’ Deut. 1:6-7.

I didn’t realize until this morning that the length of time the Israelites camped at Mt. Sinai was an entire year.  I assumed they were given their commands and went on their way towards Canaan, their promised land.  Instead they built their lives around this mountain, day after day.  I am sure they experienced the highs and lows of life, the mundane and the magnificent, and the work and play of living on planet earth just like we do.  Thoughts and doubts of the future must have peppered their minds, and longings for the comforts of their past must have tempted their obedience.  Just as we do, most likely they became cozy and comfortable in their safe little world knowing what to expect on most days.

Personally, I know all about this.  After my father-in-law died in 2011, my five year caregiving challenges came to an abrupt end.  For the last two years I have been camped out at His mountain of rest and reflection.  He has shown me things about myself and about His character.  He has given me a set of commands for which I am responsible.  He has revealed and appeared…spoken on some things and remained silent on others.  Some days have been so boring while others days have been so exhilarating with His glory.   It has been the most wonderful campsite I have ever experienced, one I really have no desire to leave.  But our promised lands won’t come to us, just like the runner must move towards the finish line to receive his reward.   After God has spoken and revealed all He has purposed, He will nudge us to pull up stakes and move forward.  God speaks to each of us in the many seasons of our lives when we are ready.  We must be willing to move out of our cozy and comfortable lives when God calls us to follow Him into new territory. 

‘In our walks with the Lord, we too will discover moments when a season ends and we are compelled to take what we’ve gathered and move forward.  When our souls begin to stir and the Holy Spirit begins gently nudging us to turn, set a new journey, and go, we can know that God is moving us to a new place in our relationship with Him,’ One In A Million, p. 107.

As God's children we must not overstay our welcome at one mountain when He is calling us to the next.