"I want it that way..."

The fact is that its about time I revive this blog, because I've been having quite a few revelations recently, and they really should be documented. And what better way to do that than with Backstreet Boys lyrics?

I was reading in I Samuel the other day, and I was struck by the whole story about Israel wanting a king. Basically, since Israel began as a people group, God had been their leader. And then he takes them out of the oppression of Egypt into the freedom of the wilderness and soon-coming promise land, and rules them. Its a theocracy, and a pretty good one too, minus all the rebellion. But around I Samuel, they start begging God for a king, and its because they want to be like all the other nations. That's why- they want to be normal like everyone else they see and have a king! And God warns them and says that this will be something that they will deeply regret later, and a king will be unfair, and God will gladly just rule over them justly forever, but they say no. They readily accept the forthcoming consequences to take a king, and the story goes on to show that it really does suck for them.

The whole part about Israel suffering because of their choice really isn't the focus so much, but even more than that I was struck by the fact that Israel made that decision. I mean, they consciously chose to have a king, and head down the wrong road, when God was holding freedom and his rule right there for them. Isn't that crazy? I almost couldn't believe it when I read the story, even though I have read it tons of times before. I just can't comprehend why Israel would choose oppression, in the name of being considered normal.

But then I remembered that I do this too, and its not something that is hard to do, either. There are many opportunities to replace God in my life with other things that are detrimental. I mean, God offers to be our joy, our providence, our companion, our security, our king, our wisdom, everything. Yet the temptation to trust in our jobs over God, or to take someone else's advice instead of God's, or to do what we want instead of what he wants, is SO strong. Even when the consequences are laid out! I still accept the wrong road knowingly! Crazy.

Its easy to say when Im not faced with a decision to make, but God really does tell us exactly what he wants us to do in most situations. To follow that sounds like the obvious action, but it's hard, especially when we want to be "normal." Or when we see something we like, and there is no better alternative except what God asks us to have faith in. It's hard. And I make the wrong decision often. But what is amazing is that God has the grace to forgive us, and not get mad, and turn our mistakes into something that works. I love it.