As leaders, we desire progress. We plan for it, work for it, and want it without needless delay. The Lord leads us in discerning what we are to accomplish, and he sets the manner and timing for getting it done. In our desire to progress without delay, we too often choose our manner and timing over his. We try to run ahead, beyond his leadership, but of course this will not bring the kind of transformational progress we want. I invite you to read the following Biblical reflection and share your ideas on leading others and trusting God without getting out ahead of him.
Jesus faced this temptation: Satan tempted him to jump off of the pinnacle of the temple to prove God’s promise that he would perfectly provide for and protect those who trust him perfectly (Ps 91, Mt 4, Lk 4). Jesus replied “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” What was his point? Well, Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 here, and examining the context of the verse leads us to the point Jesus is making: we must trust God’s promise to lead us perfectly, including the manner and timing, and not test him by getting out ahead of his leadership.
Deuteronomy takes place at the end of the 40 years of desert wanderings that came about because Israel did not trust in God’s protection and provision when he told them to conquer and take over the Promised Land. Moses has been told that he is about to die, and Deuteronomy contains his final exhortations for the Israelites. In chapter 6, Moses is in the middle of recounting to the people their history under his leadership. He urges them to obey the LORD in everything, loving him with all their heart, soul, and strength. He says they must do this remembering that in the past God delivered them from Egypt with a mighty hand and has promised to now also bring them into the Promised Land and enable them to conquer it. They are cautioned not to test God in this by again doubting his promised care and protection as they did at Massah, an incident recorded in Exodus.
After having been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt (Ex 17), the Israelites camped at Massah and Meribah while traveling to the Promised Land. The Israelites complained because there was no water. They angrily demanded that Moses, as God’s agent, provide them with water immediately. God did provide, but Moses said to the people “Why do you put the LORD to the test?” The people wanted the amount of water they thought best and wanted it when they wanted it, now! In demanding God’s provision and protection according to their manner and timing they were testing God and his promises.
This incident is referred to again in Psalm 95:5-11, to make a similar point. The Psalmist says that God is our Shepherd who has promised to protect and provide for us, his sheep. He reminds us that we must not harden our hearts, as at Meribah, testing his promises when he does not protect and provide according to our preferred manner and timing.
In Psalm 81:6-7, God reveals a new perspective, a twist, on the testing at Massah and Meribah. He says that, having delivered them from Egyptian slavery and having promised to care for them, he was testing them at Massah and Meribah. It appears that he intentionally led them in ways that would challenge their preferred manner and timing for protection and provision.
He continues to do this in our lives and ministries. Testing us and our faith, he sometimes leads us to accomplish what he has given us to do in a manner and timing that we would not naturally choose. As in both Jesus’ temptation and that of the Israelites at Massah, this is often because what we want is not coming as soon as we want it. When we are tempted to get out ahead of God’s leadership, we are being tempted to put him and his promises to the test.
God may have promised to plant or grow your church, but to demand that he bless plans that flow from your impatient sense of timing is not a true exercise of faith. I believe God has called me to develop and multiply leaders through coaching and earn my living doing it. However, it does not bring the kind of transformational progress I want when I plan how and how quickly he should do that, and then demand he bless my plans and meet my schedule.
In what situations are you more likely to test God by getting out ahead of his leadership with your own plans and timing instead of his? How can you learn to tell the difference between your plans and timing and his, and learn to advance in faith when he is leading, and to wait and endure in faith when he is not yet leading you onward?
I look forward to hearing your answers and comments and profiting from your wisdom and experience.