Following on from the last post . . .
What is the Holy Spirit’s answer to the problem of our flesh always answering for us?
The children of Israel came up out of the Red Sea. They had just left Egypt and terrible bondage. They were emotionally scarred as a result of that time. All of their arguing and complaining and fighting amongst themselves that followed was an evidence that Egypt and Pharaoh had left a stain on their heart. They were like orphans, fighting for survival, as if they were still there. To interact with them was to communicate with that brokenness. It answered for them, but it was not really their true selves. The brokenness needed to be broken before they were ready for the blessings of the Promised Land.
We hear many stories of people in poverty that win big at lotto or in some gambling game. They become instant millionaires! Six months later it is all gone. What a tragedy. How could that happen? What were they thinking? The truth is that their brokenness was driving all their decisions. Their brokenness, which brought them into poverty in the first place and kept them there was being entrusted with a million dollars! Of course, it would choose to return them to their original state.
The Israelites could not enter straight into the Promised Land. If they had of, they would have quickly ended up as slaves to a new master – the Canaanites. Why? Because, in their brokenness they were still acting as slaves.
The Holy Spirit has the same answer for them and us. The first step to maturity is to learn to follow the cloud and eat the manna. He was not going to ask them what they wanted to eat or where they wanted to go. They wouldn’t have answered. They would have abdicated the answer to their flesh and brokenness. It was time for that brokenness to lose some of its power over them. The Holy Spirit effectively rendered it mute. All it could do was whinge and complain. He would never let it have its way.
If you find your brokenness answering for you, and if you are ready. Then you will find the Holy Spirit wants to take you on a journey where you learn to depend on him. It won’t be comfortable. Your flesh will cry out in despair. But deep within your soul will begin to feel again. You will find that deep down you were a little different from what you thought. Your desires were not those of your tormentor.
When the Lord calls us to submit to him and follow him unquestioningly, he is not trying to squash us underfoot. He wants to uncover the real you. In the short-term, he can’t let you make your own decisions, because you are not really making them. He will speak for you for a while in place of your brokenness.
“What?” you say, “Swap one person that speaks for me for another. What use is that?”
Actually the difference is vast. It is like the contrast between a power of attorney and identity fraud! The difference is that he has your best interests at heart. He wants you in the Promised Land. Your flesh wants you back in Egypt.
And it’s not forever . . .
The manna ceased the moment the Israelites entered the Promised Land in Joshua 5:12. The last reference we have to God leading them in a cloud is near the end of Moses' life recorded in Deuteronomy 31:15. As we mature, there will come a point where the role of the Holy Spirit directing and guiding us, gives way to the abundant life of the Father’s house.
Unfortunately, in the beginning, we are unable to speak and choose for ourselves. The question is: Which of these two will we allow to speak for us?
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