Should I Stay or Should I Go?
(Read Numbers 14)
If we live long enough, we will face a stay or go decision at some time. One of my favorite bands during my college days was The Clash — a punk band from England. Not in my top ten, but their most popular song was, “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” Such simple and powerful words.
A very close friend of mine recently encountered this situation in his life. Some day, all of us will have to make a choice about moving, taking a new job, agreeing to terms, or staying put in our lives. Each scenario comes with its own set of reasons and for different people, the answers fit differently. After the Israelites had endured 400 years of horrible torture and slavery, God led them out of Egypt. Whatever gratitude they had towards God didn’t last. The 40-year journey from Egypt brought them to the edge of the promised land, but because of their hardships, their forward progress stopped. They stalled. They stopped listening to God’s plans for them and instead second-guessed their faith. God grew weary of their sudden inaction.
The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
Deuteronomy 1:6
In a nutshell, God told Israel to buckle up, put your big boy pants on, and move on. They had spent a year on Mount Sinai. It was time for God’s people to move forward in faith and take on His promise. After all, God didn’t rescue His people from Egypt just so they would only go as far as they were comfortable.
My friend was offered an amazing career opportunity. In our Covid or post-Covid world, great career moves don’t always materialize. One of the good things happening in our fallen world is that many people are resigning or quitting their jobs for a better opportunity personally, emotionally, professionally, and even spiritually. I’m not sure if that’s the case with my friend’s situation, but it certainly seems to bring up a lot of follow up questions.
We had many conversations about his options. The big question is do I stay with the comfort and security of what I have known for many years, or do I take the other road that is uncertain but has dramatically more possibilities?
Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Numbers 14:3-4
Not only had the Israelites been given freedom, but they were presented with a divinely promised land from the only one capable of promising it. Faced with a difficult and uncertain future, the Israelites grew angry at the message and messenger. They were upset at Moses for conveying God’s orders to move on and probably God too.
The Israelites went from obedient faith in God’s grand promises to a position of fear. Fear can be a good thing and save our lives, but fear also lies embedded in unbelief. It tends to grow when nurtured.
I had no opinion either way about what decision my friend chose, but in our last conversation, I asked him why he was hesitating about accepting the offer? What about staying made sense? What about going made him hesitate? He’s an incredibly logical and science-minded believer, so I know his decision was well-researched. My friend probably weighed the pros and cons so much they started losing their meaning the way a simple word does when you think about it too closely. He prayed and prayed for discernment from God. My wife and I did too.
My friend recently shared a lightning-strike revelation with me. “Remember how the Israelites were complaining about being in the wilderness when they told Moses they would have been better off back in Egypt?” he said. He continued, “They couldn’t see that the promised land was indescribably better than Egypt. The Spirit lead me to the realization that maybe I want to stay in Egypt because it is something comfortable and known.”
Does this sound familiar? Can we relate to this response? When we focus on the past, the routines we’re familiar with, it won’t be long before we start complaining about our present situation. We always tend to remember the green grass in the sun from time past rather than the entire picture painted with the good and the bad, the easy and the challenging.
I’m not suggesting that we always jump at every new opportunity in front of us. There are times when staying put makes a lot of sense. During His 40 days in the wilderness Satan tempted Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple. Instead, Jesus said, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Basically, go take a hike, I’m staying put, try again. We don’t test God for answers, we trust in Him and ask Him for clarity.
Ultimately, God doesn’t want us to run from our fears. He wants us to attack them. He is there to help us with our choices but not to make them for us. When we move forward in faith — we glorify God. When we hide from forward progress, we also hide from God.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
“But, God has so much more in store for me if I just step out in faith and trust him on this,” my friend added. “So I don’t want to stay in Egypt and I need to take a step of faith.” My friend’s thoughts show that when we trust in God and use the faith that He gave us, we make Him so much bigger. When we doubt His promises even for a moment, we magnify our obstacles.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm in the Bible. Psalm 119 is the longest. It is a love poem that talks about the beauty and life saving attributes of God’s law. When confused by a fork in the road, we often go with the path that is the brightest, most well-lit. We base our decisions on what WE think is the best option. Sometimes it’s the best choice. Sometimes it’s chosen because it’s the safest, easiest, and smoothest path.
Whatever the decision we need to make, it needs to include God’s wisdom. God’s word and love is a lamp for our feet. His light not only lights the path for our first steps, but for each step until when we reach the end of the trail. God is with us, around us, and before us. I have made a few decisions based on my limited knowledge of the best interest of my family and me. Some have worked out and some have not. Had I consulted God more deeply, my faith in Him would be that much further along. I will no longer take a shortcut away from Him, I will trust in the vision God has for me, not of my own.
The truth of God applied to our circumstances brings a burst of enthusiasm nothing else can provide.
— Charles R. Swindoll
Key Application:
- None of us are as bad as we think we might be and none of us are as righteous as we hope we are. Upon reading Numbers 14, can you identify with the Israelites?
- Use this week as a time of reflection and inspection. Pray about some past choices you made that did not give God a chance to speak his voice.
- Pray that you will ask God to help you in all of your opportunities, that you will rely on Him and your faith will bring you back to Him every time.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.