Another way to say "Yes"

Numbers 9:23 (NIV)

When the Lord so directed, the Israelites would camp or set out. Thus, they carried out the command of the Lord, according to what the Lord had said through Moses.

When I was invited to work jointly with the Baptist Spanish Publishing House, I was in Costa Rica in the middle of an improvement program for teachers of the Baptist Seminaries of Central America. I told the caller that I would give him an answer when I returned to my country and talked to my wife and daughter.

I must confess that I was initially not interested in the invitation. I was already doing and living what I had envisioned for my life almost since childhood: being a Bible teacher and teaching at the National University. My wife was pleased in the house where we lived and my daughter attended a private Christian school. So changing places or jobs was unthinkable. God would have to be very clear or show me a big sign for me to say "yes." 

We began to pray to God. Several days went by and every time they called us asking for an answer, I would say, "We are praying about your invitation, but if you are in a hurry, find someone else."

At a certain point after praying, my wife said, “What if God is calling us and we are disobeying?" It occurred to me that we should ask for a sign from God “a sign" as an Old Testament friend named Gideon did. Honestly, I hoped there would be no sign because I was more than happy with my life. To change country, to leave my friends, siblings, culture, and lifestyle to go to an unknown place, in another socio-cultural and school context? I had to think about it very carefully.

God answered and we had the sign. Now we knew what we had to do... packing our bags, abandoning our families, and literally "flying" somewhere else.

I think of that time every time I read the story of the Israelites in the Old Testament (Numbers 9:15-23). They were traveling toward the Promised Land. However, the journey was not laid out before them. They did not know the exact destination or the path by which God would lead them. God directed them through a cloud over the Tabernacle. When the cloud went up, the Israelites packed their bags and followed the cloud, day or night. During the night, the Lord provided a fire in the cloud. When the cloud stopped, they stopped.

It was a life of faith, as our verse for today's Reflection explains: "At the command of the Lord they encamped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They obeyed the command of the Lord, according to his command through Moses" (Numbers 9:23).

God knew what awaited His chosen people, and he knew there had to be some changes in me.  He had to show me, and that is what the Lord did for me. I had to change my priorities, my work, and my daily life routine. God freed me from a life led by me and showed me the beauty of a life led by him.

God transformed my heart, my faith, and my family through that first hard "yes." In all these years I have learned that God rarely gives me a map or GPS for my next mission. He simply tells me to move and waits for my “yes.”

Although obedience is sometimes terrifying, God has demonstrated His faithfulness. Even when I seem to be heading into the unknown, it's only because my vision is limited. God knows His good plans for me. he just wants me to trust him. And every time I do, the result is better than I could ever imagine.

The change was not easy, at times I felt a strong desire to return to the land where I grew up. However, God has given me joy and peace, he has taken away the fear that kept me bound for many years and my faith has grown. Although it is a paradox, I have learned this truth: The harder it is to say “Yes”, the greater my blessing will be.

Pray

Dear Lord, thank You for having good plans for me. Help me learn to listen carefully to your next assignment and to obey with a cheerful heart, even if I don't know where you're taking me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Reflect and respond

Why doesn't God provide us with a map or a road map for our next task?

Is God asking you to do something difficult today? What should your answer be?

May God bless you is my heart’s desire and my prayer for you today.