"You have dwelt long enough at this mountain."
Deuteronomy 1:6b
Ever felt that? That ache, that gnaw, that not-so-subtle nudge in the ribs..."You have dwelt long enough..."
It's so easy for me to identify with the ancient Israelites, and not just because I often find myself in the constant cycle of forgetting God's goodness, complaining about nothing, ignoring His grace. They lived in an unending state of waiting. Waiting on God, waiting on themselves to take God at His word. I looked up the Hebrew word for "dwelt" today; it literally translates "sit" or "remain."
I think we all have mountains where we sit - the mountains of insecurity, guilt, anger, fear. Anywhere we feel safe and God won't push us to do anything outside of our comfort zone. And then one day comes the word: enough.
"Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites."
Deuteronomy 1:7a
An imperative sentence is a sentence that gives a command; the subject of an imperative sentence is always the understood (You). This particular imperative sentence has three verbs: Turn. Take. Go. All three verbs share the same subject: You.
This is not a suggestion or an "if you feel like it." This is a very clear command on the part of God:
1) Turn: We've all heard it before, but to turn towards something, we have to turn our backs on something else. In this case, a mountain. A mountain where we've felt comfortable and safe. A turning towards the unknown. Terrifying, yes?
2) Take: Notice the object of this verb - "journey" - and now notice the adjective - "your." Everyone has a different journey to take in life. Everyone has a different mountain to leave behind. So many times, we have a terrible habit of treating everyone's journeys exactly alike. "You shouldn't struggle with that," "Why would you ever fear that?" But the adage really is true: Be kind to everyone, for everyone fights a battle which you know nothing about. We all have a journey to take.
3) Go: The hardest part. I feel as if I've spent entire seasons of my life just trying to accomplish Steps 1 & 2 - turning my back on my fears and taking the journey. But when we're finally ready? When we're finally sick and tired of living in that cycle? When we agree that, yes, we've dwelt long enough at this mountain?
"See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land."
Deuteronomy 1:8
The Lord has prepared a way. Sometimes He makes it clear to us, and sometimes we have to show faith. But here's the great part: the Promised Land of our future is there, ready for the taking. We don't have to perform some endless list of useless tasks or perform a list of rituals first. In fact, the first thing we have to do is a repeat of an earlier instruction: Go.
I think God knew going would be the hardest part for us. Taking that first step, then another, and then another. Fighting the fear to turn back. Fighting the voices in our heads telling us we're not good enough, safe enough, smart enough, worthy enough. Turn. Take. Go. Go in and possess the land.
Not visit. Not camp out. Not hide out in. Possess. With confidence. With surety. The Lord already has it planned out - all we have to do is follow the command to go and confidently possess the gift He is giving us.
"Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 1:21
God knows how many times we have to be reminded of something. He knows how hard of hearing, how fearful we tend to be. So He reminds us again: The. Gift. Is. Free. For. The. Taking.
"The Lord your God has set the land before you."
It's there! Right there! Just over the ridge. Waiting. Waiting for you.
"Go up and possess it."
Another reminder. You've taken two of the hardest steps: turned your back on the mountain and taken this journey as your own. No comparisons of how the other travelers are doing. Just you, right where you are. Now go.
Go.
Go!
Three times this command. Like a coach on the sidelines, yelling, screaming, encouraging us onward. Just a little further! You can make it! Don't quit now!
Stand firm. Possess it. Have confidence.
"Do not fear or be discouraged."
God knows our weakness. He knows our limitations. He knows the fear that assaults us on all sides. But you've come so far. You've turned. You've taken. Now go. Go and possess. Go and possess! Don't be afraid. Don't be discouraged. The journey is long and hard. The obstacles can seem insurmountable. But remember: the land is already there, ready for the taking. The battle is already won.
"Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you...you saw how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place."
Deuteronomy 1:29-31
"Do not...fear...be discouraged...be terrified...be afraid." Four reminders this time. For fear is the strongest inhibitor of all. But notice: another imperative command. Do. Not.
It's not worth it. It's pointless. It's fruitless. The Lord has already gone before you. He has already prepared the way. You simply have to walk it.
And in case you're tempted to turn back to that mountain, even now that you've come so far? "The Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son." When you're too weak to walk under your own strength? He. Will. Carry. You.
He has been with you, fighting, protecting, carrying, all the way up until this place. Whatever "this place" is for you. Defeat. Rock bottom. Afraid to go on. Afraid to go back. Afraid.
Fellow traveler, take it from this wandering child: Turn. Take. Go. Possess. And do not be afraid.
