Follow, But Not Too Close
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[Joshua's officers] commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it… Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” (Joshua 3:3-4)
When I was little, we visited a motel that was more like two rows of cabins along the seaside. Several families we knew stayed there. At the end of the rows was a little shed to clean fish and keep your rods. We got up before the crack of dawn and headed for the shed, the path visible by the floodlights of the motel. Beyond it, though, was pitch black. The moon had already set. We traipsed over the dunes to the levy to fish.
Dad led the way with the flash light and we followed, eyes on his legs illuminated by the beam. We could just barely see the path in an oval lit around him. The trick was to stay back far enough to see him and the path, but not too far back to miss whatever directions he was to give us such as, “watch for the rock on the left”, or “it slopes down here be careful”.
The Hebrews had the ark where God came and dwelt amongst them. God gave them instructions, through the leaders, to follow it into the Promised Land - but not too closely. Like my Dad, God knew the path ahead. The Hebrews did not.
Today, Christians have the Holy Spirit to light our path and give us direction. We must follow behind, far enough back to avoid the dangers that lurk out of our view, but close enough to receive instructions and not wander off the path. To learn that fine balance takes time.
Do you ever feel impatient to get where you are being led? I do. Like a child on the beach, I want to dash over the dunes to get to the shore. Wisdom tells me my view is obscured, and to slow down, but my heart wants to race to the good part. But there are lessons to be learned in the journey, and obstacles in the way. The Hebrews learned that the hard way. At times, so do I.
Question – Are you following God too closely, or not close enough?
About the Author: Julie B. Cosgrove
