Joshua or one of the 12 tribes?

Well this is something I quite honestly never really thought would happen. What a journey I've gone on in the past few weeks. Let me begin by saying, that this is a lesson in obedience. It's a tough lesson to learn let me tell you!

On Sunday 10th of Feb, I went to the Welcome to Cadets meeting in Melbourne (well actually in Waverley which seems as far from the City as Torquay is!). I went because one of my friends, Karyn, was entering Training College in order to become a Salvation Army Officer (minister for those who aren't in with the Salvo jargon). I wanted to show her that I support both her and her ministry, and to be honest, any excuse to go to an old fashioned Salvo meeting is good for me!

As we were coming from the other side of Victoria (not quite but it felt that way!), Joel and I made it right as it started - so were directed to the back seats. The sound was atrocious, we couldn't see the screen, and could only hear people when they spoke from one specific microphone. Not my idea of a good opportunity to hear from God! Interestingly enough, we were able to hear the sermon, and as Lt. Colonel Ray Finger (our Chief Secretary) preached, I started to feel that gentle tugging on my heart that this sermon might actually be for me. He was talking about the great need for Officers in The Salvation Army, for people who were called to Officership to be obedient. He talked about how you know you're called, that it's when there is an altar call, and you feel you should go, but don't. That when there is a sermon about officership, you feel nervous, and awkward. That you have never truly been able to find contentment and happiness in any of your jobs. All signs that God is calling you onto something else. I had all of those things right at that moment. It was as though my life was flashing before my eyes, that I realized I've never been happy in any job, and always felt I could do more.

So then the altar call happens "If you are already a candidate for officership, come down. If you know that you are called to be an officer, come down. If God spoke to you in this sermon, come down"... and I knew I should go. Mum turned around and said "If you want to go down there, I'll come with you". No way. Joel looked at me and smiled being a good Divisional Candidates Secretary, I just looked back and said "NO". Then it happened.... Major Marney Turner - the most wonderfully prophetic and spiritual woman I know - comes marching down the aisle - she didn't see me at first, but both she and mum knew she was coming for me - and bang, there she was at my side - literally PHYSICALLY pulling me to come forward. I pulled away and said "Marney I'M NOT CALLED FOR OFFICERSHIP"... so she just prayed for me, right there on the spot.

As I left that service, I knew I was disobedient. That God had called, and despite my promise for the last few years "If God calls me, I'll sign up", I hadn't. I felt ill. Constant butterflies in my stomach. I went home, and took up my devotions book. Great. Numbers 13-14. God tells Moses to send the leaders of 12 Tribes of Israel to Cannan, the promised land. It was LITERALLY the land of milk and honey, the promised land they had been searching for. They all knew it. When they got back to the Israelites, Moses asked them what they found. They told everyone that it was the perfect land. The people were excited ready to go and take the promised land. But 10 of the 12 tribes leaders started to get frightened and told the people there was no way they could beat the big strong people that inhabited the land. The people got scared and decided to rebel against God's promise to them. Joshua & Caleb stood before the people and said:

“The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:7-9)

The people didn't listen to their pleas, and as a result, wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. Most never saw the Promised Land.

Bang, there it was. I wept openly as I read my devotions. The question my book asked was "At this point in your life, are you like Joshua & Caleb, believing God is with you and leading you to the promised land or are you one of the other 10 tribes of Israel?" I had to honestly say that I had been one of the 10 tribes, not a Joshua or Caleb.

So on Wednesday 13th of Feb, I met with Marney, and signed my College papers. As it happens, I'd prefer to be a Joshua or Caleb, not one of the 10 tribes. I want to walk in the promised land. I don't want to wander through the wilderness for 40 years. I want to not just think God is with me, but to walk within that.

So my question to you is... Are you a Joshua & Caleb, or are you one of the 10 tribes? Are you marching on into your promised land - the place in which God has called you - or are you choosing to stay one of the 10, too gripped by your own fear to march on through?

Because let me tell you, the freedom and release you get when you make a pledge to follow God's way, not yours... man, it's awesome! :)