Stories



Num 14:1 The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. 

Num 14:2 All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire 

	community was in on it: "Why didn't we die in Egypt? Or in this 

	wilderness? 

Num 14:3 Why has GOD brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and 

	children are about to become plunder. Why don't we just head back to 

	Egypt? And right now!" 

Num 14:4 Soon they were all saying it to one another: "Let's pick a new leader; 

	let's head back to Egypt." 


	The way in which information is presented and handled is most critical as 

to how progress will be facilitated. Without peace there can be no stepping into 

any place of conquest, and that peace will only be possible with a story that 

includes the victory of God as its main theme. Given the exact same material, it 

is possible to create a scenario of both devastating disappointment and 

conquering success. 


	The immediate indicator of which of these has been chosen is the soul 

condition of those that are hearing the story told. In the case of the 

Israelites in the desert, there is no question about which way had been chosen, 

as the indicator of discontent and discouragement was peaking to the point of 

despair. As they were given both possibilities, the prospect of the possible 

defeat before them was more impressive than the possibility of success. Somehow 

they had become much more familiar with disillusionment than gratified hope, and 

seeing their God as big enough was still in need of development. They would 

spend the next 40 years acquiring this ability to listen to and accept the story 

of victory over the story of defeat. This would all take place in learning how 

to let the headlines be filled with the calming assurance of God involvement. 

After discovering the results of listening to and dwelling on the dark stories 

of what might loom in the future, there was an eventual giving up those old worn 

out tales for the much more peace instilling musings on what might actually take 

place when God's way was followed and His Word was kept. 


	You might wonder about what would have taken place had the negative 

stories not been allowed and only the victory story heard. If it would have been 

possible to somehow only hear the wonderful good things, might there first of 

all been a complete aversion from the distress that attacked their souls. They 

would have been able to go to bed that night with a smile of contentment and 

confidence on their faces, dreaming the dreams of the of cared for and the 

victors. The next day they could have begun to take the necessary steps to 

actually move towards the promise with a rested and secure boldness. Without the 

second-guessing inspired by the perilous prospects, there would have been a 

singleness of purpose that would have propelled them past any of the obstacles 

in the way. Instead of living the transient life of the "dust breathers", they 

could have occupied the land of abundance with a heart free from stress and 

oppression. 


	If only there could have been only one story heard, if their only option 

had been that of God's way, surely they would have taken the straight path 

directly to the Promised Land. It seems, though, that there will always be more 

than one story being told about any situation and our own choice will alone 

determine which one receives the prominent role-the front page. And, like the 

children of Israel, this choice will be made based upon what is most familiar- 

God's presence and His Word, or the dominance and oppression of a bound life. It 

is interesting that God took their choice of stories quite personal. He didn't 

just say that He understood what they were going through and that, yes, it must 

be most distressing to have to consider such terrible prospects. No, He saw 

their decision to be tormented by the negative story as a direct rejection of 

Him and His extravagant attempts at drawing them into relationship with Him. 

Their choice of stories was their choice of worship. Listening to defeat was a 

direct slap against what He wanted so much for them. If it wasn't for His mercy 

alone they would have been utterly destroyed right then. 


	There is a debate going on as to what should be available on television and what choices should even be allowed. There are some that say it should all 

be an option and that the determination of what will be seen be made at the 

touch of the remote control. Whether or not this is right, it does seem to 

represent what takes place in life on a continual basis. We have a whole slew of 

options available to us. What we choose to watch as our life's story, though, 

will most certainly be immediately noticed in the condition of our soul, and 

then, ultimately, in the condition of our surroundings. The story we choose to 

watch will be somewhat like the preview of what is to come- good or bad. May 

this determination be increasingly influenced by the familiarity of our Father's 

presence, and our impression of Him render any other story quite insignificant 

and unworthy of any consideration. Though surrounded by an endless number of 

possibilities, our choice will be that which comes from the One who is our 

life's choice of worship- our Redeemer, our Father, our Friend, our Everything. 

Peace, confidence, affirmation, and comfort will be ours immediately, with 

victory and success as our ultimate destination. 



12/18/04