Tempted To Play It Safe
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Numbers 14:1-10
That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."
Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. …
It’s against human nature to take risks we don’t understand. And the Israelites were following human instincts in the face of difficult odds. As they faced the prospect of a battle against a much stronger opponent, they seemed to forget their very difficult lives as slaves in Egypt; they forgot all of God’s miracles in getting them to this point including the escape from the terrible Egyptian army as God parted the Red Sea. Their lack of faith did not allow them to see that with God providing the plan, no opponent could overtake them. They sought the relative safety of returning to what they knew in Egypt.
How sad it is when we miss out on wonderful opportunities because we want to play it safe. Following our human instincts, we will never grasp the ability to fulfill God’s plans for our lives. Following logic, we will always come up short of what God wants for us.
When I contemplated my first visit to the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK – North Korea), some friends thought I had lost my mind. Travel to that harsh Communist country by US citizens was considered dangerous. Diplomatic relations did not exist between the two countries. At least one American visitor had landed in prison. Logic suggested it was not a good place to visit. I had strong urges and encouragement from friends to pass on the opportunity.
But I knew in my heart God had a plan for me to have relationships with medical educators in that country. I was confident that the God who placed that desire and plan in my heart would provide all the protection I needed. And He did.
Lord, help me resist playing it safe when you provide a plan and a vision.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
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