STAY PUT Larry W Peebles January 3, 2020 20.01

I was only 10 or 11 years old when I went on my first hunting trip with my dad.  A deer would provide meat for our family of five for several weeks.  We woke up early on a cold December morning and drove to my uncle’s ranch in south Texas.  It was still dark when my dad and I left the ranch house with another uncle.  We began to follow a trail through the brush along the banks of the river that cut through the ranch.  I remembered to walk as quietly as possible, avoiding the brush on the sides of the trail, and sticks lying on the ground.  My dad had given me a gun to carry, the same one I had practiced with for weeks under his supervision.  However, I had no idea where I was going or what we were doing.  I just remember the silence, the dark and the cold.  We arrived at a tall tree that towered above the brush.  My dad told me to climb the tree using the board steps nailed to the trunk.  When I got up in the tree, I would find a large board on which I could sit.  When the sun came up, I was to watch the brush to my right and left for deer crossing between a pasture behind me and the water in front of me. The height of the tree would provide the advantage of a better perspective.  I climbed up, and my dad lifted the gun to me.  My uncle gave me a blanket to keep me warm.  I was told to stay put until they came back for me a few hours after sunrise.  They both walked away to find their spots to hunt, and I was left in the top of a tree under the stars. 

The first light of a new day was a grand experience.  The blanket was a necessity.  Occasionally an owl would hoot, or a small animal I could not see would move through the brush.  The sounds startled me and helped me stay awake.  I had to fight the fear of the dark and of being alone.  When enough light finally came, the stars began to disappear, a few birds began to chirp, and I could see where I was.  Stumps and brush that I imagined to be deer in the dark became clear.  I did see one deer that morning, a doe that traveled safely from the pasture behind me through the brush and toward the river.  Even though I was awed by the sunrise, and excited to see the deer, nothing felt better than hearing my dad and uncle return to get me after a few hours.  I was cold, stiff, tired and ready to come down to the ground.  I felt so vulnerable in that tree listening to the sounds of the night, not sure of exactly when I would be retrieved.  My dad and uncle were pleased I came, and stayed where I was stationed.  I learned a strong lesson that day.  When one does not know where they are or what they are doing, it is essential to follow directions from someone who does.

The Word of God repeatedly reinforces this lesson.  When the Israelites were set free from Egyptian slavery and traveled through the desert toward the land promised to their forefathers, they did not know exactly where they were going or how to get there.  They followed the cloud (of God’s presence) by day, and the pillar of fire by night. (Exodus 13:21)  When the cloud or the fire moved, they packed up and followed.  If the cloud or fire did not move, they stayed put.  This was God’s way of putting them where they needed to be, and showing them what to do.  They only needed to obey.

When Nehemiah was sent to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, God told him where he needed to be (Jerusalem), and what to do (rebuild the walls).  His critics told him he did not have enough materials, skills, or workers to rebuild the wall.  He was accused of trying to build his own kingdom.  Through all the criticism and threats, he built with tools in one hand and a weapon in the other.  He refused to come down off the wall to even meet with his critics.  He had instruction from God, and was determined to stay put until he was done.  The entire wall and gates of Jerusalem were repaired and rebuilt in 52 days.  (Nehemiah 6:15)

Jesus told a few of his disciples to stay put when they were asked to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.  From Matthew 26, the specific instructions were- “sit here while I pray” v. 36, “stay here and watch” v. 38, and “watch and pray” v. 41.  Each time the disciples fell asleep while Jesus agonized in prayer before His arrest and crucifixion.  They had their instructions, but were unable to follow them.

The example from Jeremiah Chapter 42 may be clearer than the examples above.  The children of Israel had drifted away from God.  A long line of kings had given bad direction, which set bad examples.  Idol worship and pagan practices were followed throughout Israel and Judah.  God had allowed Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans to lay siege and capture Jerusalem.  Most of the people were carried off to Babylon as slaves.  The royal family was killed, and the king’s eyes were put out.  Only a few people were left in the land to occupy and work it under the direction of Nebuchadnezzar’s men.

With the city in ruins and most of their families and friends carried off into captivity, the remnant left behind came to Jeremiah.  He was asked to inquire of the Lord what they should do—stay and work the land, or escape into Egypt.  Everything they knew had been shaken, destroyed, and disrupted.  They did not know what to do, or what lay ahead.  Would their new leaders be harsh?  Could they even survive by working the land?  What would become of their families and friends in captivity? Would they ever see them again?  All seemed dark and desperate.  They took the first correct step—they inquired of the Lord.

After ten days, Jeremiah returned with this word from the Lord- Jeremiah 42:9-12- “Thus says the Lord…If you will remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up….Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him says the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand.  And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.”

Jeremiah then went on to speak a warning from the Lord in verses 15 and 16- “If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there, then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die.”

Here are some clear conclusions from this story:

1. We should ask the Lord when we are shaken to the foundation- when we do not know where we should be or what we should be doing.
2. He will answer.
3. He will bless us when we follow His instructions as to where we should be, and what we should be doing.  In this case, the answer was “stay put”.  He will plant us, and cause us to grow and be built up.  He will be with us, and cause us not to be afraid, no matter the circumstances.  He will save us, deliver us, and show us mercy.
4. If we do not follow instructions, and take matters into our own hands, we are subject to the very things we feared.

Unfortunately, and even with this clear word from the Lord, the remnant fled to Egypt.  God caused Nebuchadnezzar to invade Egypt, and the remnant, except for a few who escaped back to Israel, was destroyed.

Over the 50 years of our marriage, my wife and I have learned to always ask the Lord about where we should live, where we should seek employment and work, and where we should worship.  Sometimes He has told us to stay put, and other times He has told us to move.  We sold our dream home on a beautiful lake east of Dallas, left our church, our friends and family behind, and moved 1000 miles to Tampa because He told us to do so.  We started a new life together, and a spiritual journey that changed us forever.  When we tried to sell that Tampa house and build another home on a lake, He would not allow it.  We quickly sold the lake lot.  We once sold a house during the great recession at a huge discount because He said to do it, and found ourselves able to buy perhaps the best home we have ever owned at an even greater discount. Years later, He told us to move to the mountains of north Georgia before we had sold the home we were living in.  We began to pack and move a little at the time, and in the process of obeying, He sold the home we were living in at a very handsome price in only two weeks.  He has led us to fantastic job opportunities, but He also said to turn down one of the most prestigious positions we were ever offered.  It looked great, but was not for us.  At one church we were ordained elders and respected leaders, but He told us to lay it all down and move to the mountains.

The more closely we have followed His instruction, even though it may have felt counter-intuitive, the more we have been blessed.  No matter what we were told to do, whether to stay or go, we have found our greatest adventures and spiritual growth in following Him.  He has never disappointed us.  He knows what lies before us.  The Word of God says he sets us in times and places.  We can never say we were born in the wrong time.  God does not make that mistake.  However, we can be mistaken about the place if we act on our own choice without asking Him and obeying.  We must learn to move when He says, and stay put until He speaks otherwise.  He has the better perspective.  When we seek His wisdom and direction, we have the advantage.  My prayer for 2020 is that we all learn to ask where He wants us to be, and what He wants us to do, and then obey.  When we do, we will find our blessed and happy new year.