Idiot Israelite
4 Mar
I used to think the Israelites of the Bible were idiots.
I mean… come on! He created a dry passageway through the middle of a sea so you could get across. He dropped food from the sky so you could eat. He led you with a pillar of fire and cloud.
I look at those miracles and think, “How in the world would you not trust a God that does things like that?”.
And then I take a closer look…
How many times has God asked you to do something that seems absurd? Contradictory to common sense?
For the first time, I recognize some of the absurd steps God led the Israelites through when they entered the Promised Land.
- He immobilized them! God’s first commanded to Joshua when they crossed the Jordan is to circumcise all Israelite men. Given that the greatest task before the Israelites was to conquer Canaan, I doubt that taking your entire fighting force and performing such delicate surgery on them made any sense at all. Yet Joshua did it. Can you imagine how exposed the Israelites felt? I mean, most men I know that have ‘man surgery’ are in no position to wield anything more than the remote for a few days. Much less a sword should someone attack.
- They threw a party! Though there is much to celebrate, they were still an unwelcome people in a foreign land. Though Canaan belonged to the Israelites, the people living their didn’t necessarily agree. Though the Amorite and Canaanite kings were afraid of the Israelites, that doesn’t mean they were not capable of inflicting some pain if the opportunity arises. Yet God had them celebrate the Passover.
If I were an Israelite, I’d think God was crazy.
Guess I’m an idiot, too.
Never though of it that way. Makes me think
Come on, if I saw a cloud and a fire…I’d follow….right right….and I wouldn’t have gotten sick of manna I’d have been satisfied ……yup, I’m an idiot.
Great Eye-opener!!
I think I am an idiot too.
Idiot here too, flint knife not a surgical tool, I couldn’t be in the room when my boys had this delicate procedure.
Moses led for 40 years on a 13 day trip and go what were you thinking he parted the sea, miracles everywhere. I am 42 and I am sure people around me are saying you idiot come on here’s your sign.
I love this. Great perspective!