The Choice of New Hope

“…I have set before you, life and death, blessings, and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” ~ Deuteronomy 30:19

 

When the lockdown was first announced everything seemed alien. The mundane routine was disrupted as life came to a standstill. However, two months and four extensions of lockdown later, we have now adapted to a new ‘normal,’ a new lifestyle. As Christians, we have tried to gain confidence during this time from God’s Word. We have claimed many of the encouraging promises from the Bible especially verses that assure us that God is our shelter, our refuge, our provider, our comforter, etc… While for some this journey to trust God seems easy, thanks to their good jobs and healthy bank balances, others struggling for a mere meal need all the encouragement they can get. 

 

When the Israelites were brought out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God they too struggled on a new path – a new journey, they were treading into the unknown. They had no prior experience as explorers, they were not trained for war, their years of suppression had instilled in them a sense of uncertainty, fear, doubt, and strife. In addition to this, the difficulties of life in the wilderness now overwhelmed them. The unpredictability of where their next meal would come from was a challenge to their faith. Their narrow escape from the plagues in Egypt did not help either, and trusting God was difficult. Each group whispered among themselves words of doubt, frustration, and fear that brought depression. Could they trust this Moses who was leading them? Had the God of their fathers really come to their rescue after 400 years? Was there even a plan for the future? Did anyone know where they were heading in this dreadful desert?

 

Their immediate anxieties prevented them from enjoying their newfound freedom. In Egypt they had been cruelly exploited, their children had been killed in the Nile and they had slaved without pay, but now the Israelites were so worried about this new journey, their anxiety prevented them from enjoying this time of comfort with their families. They filled their days with murmuring and hasty speeches against God and their leader. In slavery they had cried out to the Lord to fulfill the promise He had made to Abraham. They had believed that He would bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, but now, en route to this very land of promise they were worried. Where will we live? Can we conquer the land? The cruelty of Egypt seemed suddenly more comfortable than allowing God to take hold of their future and fulfill His promise. They had forgotten the tears in Egypt all too soon, the grass seemed greener on the other side.

 

Our own experience at present is not too far removed from the Israelites. We also are going through our own kind of wilderness experience during this lockdown. The terms and scenes may be different, but yet it also bears a great deal of similarity. We too have grumbled and complained sometimes in our hearts and at other times aloud, we too have uncertainties and fears that crowd our thoughts about the future. The freedom we now enjoy working from home and spending time with our families suddenly seems a burden while just a few months ago going to work seemed a chore. But thank God for this great assurance, the God who led the Israelites to Canaan leads us on as well. He is our Sustainer, and He has promised to travel alongside us on this path of life. So, with this confidence let us differ from the Israelites in our approach to this situation.

 

Let us choose to praise Him rather than murmur and complain,

Let us choose to thank Him even when things aren’t sane,

Let us choose to spread hope to someone who needs to hear,

And let us wait in His presence while the time is here.

 

Be Christ’s instrument of encouragement to someone who needs it today. Bring hope, instill joy, and choose life. 

– John Doraiswamy