Food Fight
God is spirit and truth. His kingdom is founded on what best feeds your soul and fuels your faith.
“When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land... They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large...We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”
Numbers 13:16-18, 20, 25, 27-28, 31
Can you imagine living in a time where there were no grocery stories or grubhub? Living when you could not eat out or get ubereats when you were not sure what to eat? The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness dining on manna and quail meat. Not exactly a choice menu from a Michelin restaurant. No wonder the idea of exploring and finding new soil with food options was appealing.
What did they find? God was leading them to a place just like He promised. A place flowing with milk and honey. The problem was there were powerful people and fear quickly caused them to lose their appetites. What are you hoping for? Where are you wanting to claim a promise from God, but only see obstacles in the way?
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope...put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.”
Psalms 130:3-7
Many of us have trouble with God's timing. We do not live in a world that specializes in waiting. When was the last time you found yourself waiting? Maybe it was in a lobby or in line. What did you do? Odds are you pulled out your cell phone and scrolled. We do not like waiting, but is it possible that God's timing is intentional? Is it possible that we are meant to grow in the waiting?
If we relate it to our food theme that dominates these passages. Think about how much better something tastes when you are hungry and truly ready to eat. Compare that to when you get something that you know you like, but already have a full stomach. David sings with joy about the waiting because he knows that God always delivers. When David says unfailing love, he truly means a love that meets his needs and never fails to redeem him. Will you choose to praise God in the waiting, the delays, and the timing that might not be on your schedule?
“Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.”
Proverbs 28:13-14, 26-27
Solomon can be very direct. He says life is not all about you nor how capable you are. Why does he say this to us? What must he see in how others were living that made him want to teach us to turn from a life of self-reliance rather than trusting God's generosity? We live in an American culture that celebrates individual accomplishment and there are many inspiring stories of people who have found success through perseverance, dedication, ingenuity, and hard work.
How does the American dream mindset impact our intimacy with our Creator? There can be a real tension between walking with the performance mindset and learning to receive the gift of salvation that is by grace alone. The Bible teaches us that everything is from God and we are stewards of our time, talent, and treasure. Wisdom teaches us that there is a problem if our stomachs are full and others are hungry. God promises that the people who demonstrate their trust in Him, and demonstrate that trust by sharing with others, will lack nothing. Would you like to have abundance? God says give, share, and love those in need.
“Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin. They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them."
Ezekiel 7:18-20, 27
What do you desire? Does the idea of more silver, gold, or more excite you? It is very natural if it does. There is a reason that stories of buried treasure or great wealth are popular. It is rational to wonder what life might be like if you had more.
Money, whether silver or gold, is a tool. It is not best for our souls when all of our physical energy is spent on attaining something that does not benefit the spirit. The challenge with money can be it can create a never-ending hunger for more. More money, more possessions, more of the things we can crave. Ezekiel says silver and gold will not help you when it is all said and done. He challenges the people in hopes that they would keep a right perspective about the place money should have in our lives. The created things should never be worshipped above the Creator. How does money impact your heart?
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace"
Romans 14:4, 8, 10-12, 17-19
Paul was a man who had learned to be content whether he had a little or had a lot. He unlocked the kingdom power in his own life by surrendering the desires of the flesh that are not lasting as well as the judgment of those who might not live like he did. What does he teach us in this passage? He says don't judge others. To the Jewish audience, the idea that people could eat anything would have been shocking. Paul always holds up a mirror and tells us to focus on following the spirit within us rather than holding up a microscope to examine whether other people are doing what we think is right. Do you ever find yourself judging others? Why?
The natural question that arises is what do you want? Do you want to live a life that pursues what will meet your needs here and now or now and forever? Do you want to experience a life empowered by the spirit? How you choose to spend your time and steward your resources tells God what you really want. Paul essentially reiterates Jesus message from Matthew 6:33 that we should seek first the kingdom of God and all other things will be given. Jesus says eat food that lasts. He says He is the bread of life. He is the manna that God provides just like God provided in the wilderness. The problem then was that the people wanted more than the way God fed them with heavenly blessings. Will we be the same? Will we choose to let our desires for what feeds us today physically outweigh, what feeds our souls eternally?
There is a better way to live and that way is by following Jesus. Jesus wants to lead us to the land of milk and honey, peace and prosperity, community and connection, but we have to learn to move beyond our fears. The fears that say you will not have enough or the obstacles in your way are too great. Can anything stand against the Lord our Almighty God? God says seek me, hunger for justice and have a thirst for righteousness and be filled with the best of heaven, here on earth.