14 June 2010
Psalm 80; Num 9.15-23, 10.29-36; Rom. 1.1-15; Matt 17.14-21

The movement of the people in the wilderness is directed by God via the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all your steps were so evidently guided by some sign like this? If not for sin, we would have such a life, both original sin and the sin in our own lives. The more we deal with sin in our lives, the more we can experience the joy of the presence of God and the clarity of knowing God’s guidance. It is no good longing for the presence of God while tolerating sin in our lives. In the second part of the passage we see Moses imploring his brother-in-law to come with the nation and join himself to them, assisting them with where to pitch camp when the cloud stops. They then set out on what looks like a victory march of three days with the battle cry of Moses encouraging them. Hobab does go with the nation and in Judges we are told that his descendants received a portion in the land.

The disciples are unable to heal a boy with epilepsy. The father of the child is frustrated and Jesus becomes frustrated with them as well. He is able quickly to resolve the matter that has kept them from healing the child. In Mark’s telling of the story Jesus tells them this kind can only come out with prayer, here in Matthew He says that they lack the faith necessary to effect the healing. The two are related, and linked with the earlier statement that they are a “faithless and perverse generation.” Their faith is in themselves, they have experienced success when Jesus has sent them out to heal and they treat it as either magic or some indwelling presence that allows them always to do these things when it actually requires them to actively have faith. All we do is dependent on the Lord working through us.

Paul was a man who moved according to the Spirit. That doesn’t mean he was unpredictable or that his movements were random, quite the opposite. Here and elsewhere in his writings he speaks of the Spirit preventing him from going to a particular place in spite of his intentions. Where we might have frustration Paul saw the Spirit at work, he held his plans lightly enough that he allowed for God to change them. Here to the Romans Paul speaks of his desire to come to them in order that he might impart something to them and then decides that the reality is that it would be a mutual benefit, even he had some things to learn and receive. Are we willing to allow the Lord to direct our steps as Paul was?

Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.