Holding Tight to God in Transitions

  Deuteronomy 30:20   "...and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

Ever been in a transition? You are leaving behind one thing and embracing a new thing. Transitions bring a wealth of emotions: excitement, wonder, fear, memories, hope, the unknown, anxiety. In life, transitions are unavoidable. We can look to this promise of God when we are moving from one place to another on the faith-walk with Christ.

The people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Joshua led them through many God-adventures and tests.  The ones who disobeyed God were long dead and buried in the sand. The end of wilderness-walking was now over --- the promised land lay in sight across the Jordan.  This new generation needed God's law repeated and His promises planted again in their hearts as they faced the promised land across the strip of river.
​ Deuteronomy literally means "second law"----- God's repeated words to this young people who would enter the promise given to their father, Abraham.  Over 400 years passed since God instructed Abraham to look at the stars and promised him a numberless nation and a promised land. The promised Messiah would come from this nation. Now the journey was reaching its divine destination. This huge step involved much known, but also much unknown.  God gave many promises in this book as they looked ahead to the future.

We can cling to these promises too. The situation may be different, but God's character is the same.

The three big commands are given: love, listen, and hold fast. 

"Love the Lord Your God"
The word for love in Hebrew is "ahab" and has a profound meaning. It means to love deeply, affectionately--- a strong family-ties loyalty.  The same word describes Abraham's love for his son, Isaac.  It is also used in describing Rebeckah and Isaac's love.  God desires us to love him deeply as we do those closest to us.  He is asking for an active personal love, not just an intellectual love based in fear of His holiness.  This is a love that one shares cuddling a small child on their lap, a husband and wife embracing in the night, a brother and brother growing up together.
​What a beautiful intimate love God requires!

Why is it so hard to love God this way?  Israel had every reason to love God as this. God gave them fresh water from the rock, meat and manna, and their clothes stayed new every day.  Children were born healthy; they suffered from no diseases in the wilderness.  The only death experienced were the ones who showed love to the idols of Egypt and murmured against God's goodness.  God was so good to them --- this ahab love should have flowed freely from their hearts. It should flow freely from our hearts, as God's love is shown in the death of His only Son, Jesus.  Oh what a love! Years later, a young king will exemplify this kind of love towards God.

David said in Psalm 18, "I love You, O LORD, my strength". This declarative love grew from the many transitions David made in life.  He transitioned from youngest son to anointed by Samuel, from a small-town kid to King of Israel.  He transitioned from a sheep-keeper to killer of mighty Goliath. He also transitioned as he ran from King Saul and many enemies in his life. He lived in caves for years and then lived in Jerusalem's palace.  David knew transitions. He loved, listened, and held fast to God.  Scriptures call David a man "after God's own heart." 

Watching Israel gives us strength in our time.  In times of transition, feelings of anxiety and fear can cloud this sweet love for God.  We must pray for the Holy Spirit to keep our love for Him at the front of our attention--- even when the future is murky. Love in times of transition has an even sweeter aroma to God than when we are firm in life. It is a precious form of worship.

"Listen to His voice"
Whatever you love, you listen to.  Love baseball?  You watch every game and listen to announcer's analysis.  Love country music?  You know every artist and song. When we love God with the "ahab" love He deserves, a hunger comes for more of Him.  We want to talk to Him more, to listen to His words, to cling to his promises.  Sermons come now as a hearty meal. Prayer becomes a place of solitude and peace.  God's Word becomes your safety-oasis. God gave Israel the next step after love ---- that of relationship in listening. God commanded His people to listen 92 times in the Torah alone. 

This form of listening also includes obedience.  God's voice always brings forth action in our lives. It's one to thing to hear our father say, "Don't touch the snake!" but if we touch it and are bit, we really did not listen. Hearing and obeying God are spiritual twins working in our lives. Obedience was much-needed as Israel crossed into the promised land.  When they obeyed, the land prospered.  When they disobeyed, the land died and enemies attacked.  Listening and obeying are a critical step in walking with God. When we fail, we can always repent and be restored. But God loves those who listen and obey without doubt and hesitation.  Let's look at two people who lived out this Deuteronomy promise in the time of Christ.

There is a wonderful example of this in the New Testament.  I think of Anna and Simeon in the book of Luke chapter 2.  They were elderly and alone --- of no standing in a busy Roman empire. They eagerly awaited the redemption of Israel. Their love turned into listening and God gave them wonderful revelations and the ultimate experience.  They held the Savior in their arms!

Anna and Simeon loved the Lord and believed (listened to) His promise of the Messiah.  So where were they found?  In the temple, with God's worship and people!  They were not found in the gambling casino or Roman shows.  They placed themselves closest to the presence of God. Their listening to God affected their daily life decisions.  They were in constant prayer and joyful worship believing God's Word.  When we love the Lord, we listen to Him.  We want to obey that Voice. We place ourselves where His word is preached clearly. We are open ---- Simeon may have been old, but he was quiet enough to hear the Holy Spirit whisper to him, "You will not die until you see the Messiah." Simeon's belief in this promise was his obedience. God allowed him to hold Jesus in his arms and speak to Mary and Joseph.   What a marvelous example to us today when we are in times of transition.

"Hold fast to Him"
​ The Hebrew root for this phrase is dabaq: to cling, cleave, adhere, stick, join. It is a grip to life that someone holds with all their might.  I think of the horrible flood in Texas this week. The Guadalupe River had a once-in-100-year's flood; waters rose a foot a minute in the darkness.  Many lives were tragically lost. Many Christian campers were sent to Jesus' presence in the massive waves at Camp Mystic.  One survivor was washed miles downstream and found alive clinging to a tree.  Her grip on that tree was not lax --- it was lifesaving.  Dabaq describes this kind of grip.  As we love and listen, our grip on Christ becomes more pronounced.  Our faith grows.  We realize that we cannot rely on any earthly things for eternal strength. We realize that all is temporary --- even in transition.  As the preacher C.H Spurgeon once said, “Hold everything earthly with a loose hand, but grasp eternal things with a death-like grip.” 
​
This verse from God is just as timely and life-giving as it was to the people of Israel.  No matter the transition you are in, focus on love, listening and holding fast to God.  Details of the transition will come and go.  The growth we make in Christ is far more important, with eternal rewards.
Love.
Listen. Obey.
Hold fast.
God has you.

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