Doing what the Lord Requires

Today's Readings: Numbers 32
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The ringing phone startled me out of my deep sleep. I tried to shake off the confusion as I peered at the blurry blue digital clock on my night stand. "two a.m., Who could be calling at this hour?" As I picked up the phone I heard the shaky voice of a dear friend. The person on the line was ill and desperately needed prayer. I calmly offered reassurance of God's presence and ability to heal, said a prayer, and let my friend rest. Even though I desperately wanted to go back to sleep, I spent time in continued intercession for my friend's health. A few hours later, the phone rang again and my friend needed more prayer. Again, I offered my voice to God.

That night I did not get a lot of sleep. Although I am the kind of person that needs a lot of rest, I sacrificed my desire for the sake of my calling. As a pastor, I have a God-given responsibility to care for the sheep of my flock and all those in need. This responsibility does not start at 9 am and end a 5 pm. Instead, the responsibility is constant. It means responding to the late night phone calls, the knocks on the door by strangers, the little "inconveniences" that mark the pastorate. This is a part of my calling and obedience to God is paramount.

In Numbers 32, there was a difference between the desire and the responsibility of the Israelites. Some of the people did not want to cross the Jordan River. Instead, they wanted to raise their livestock and build cities on the "safe" side of the river. They had to be instructed that failure to follow God's plan resulted in devastation for an entire generation of Israelites.

One interesting point of this passage rests in the fact that following God's plan didn't mean their desires had to be ignored. Ultimately, many of the people got their desires answered, but they first had to obey God. The people had to go to battle and fight as part of God's will first, then God would provide for them according to his promise.

Whether you are getting woken up by calls for prayer in the middle of the night or you are waiting for the fulfilment of a promise from God, the responsibility to obey God is paramount. Our desire must be to serve God and follow his plan first and foremost. Everything else will fall into place as a side effect of honoring God. God will bless his people and bless obedience.