So Far
I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot. Deuteronomy 29:5 NASB
Forty years – The Hebrew word for “forty” is ‘arbaim. It is spelled Aleph-Resh-Bet-Ayin-Yod-Mem. It is pointed so that the syllables are AR-BA-IM. But the syllabication depends on a sheva under the Resh, and as we all know, the diacritical pointing was not added to the text for almost 1000 years. What would happen if we read the words a little differently by removing the sheva. Then we could read, A-RB-AIM. This text reminds me of something in Genesis 3:16 where AR-BE can also be repointed to A-RAB(H), changing that text from “greatly multiply your pain” to “the one who ambushed you.” In Genesis 3:16 the difference has enormous implications for God’s interaction with the woman after eating from the Tree. In our text today, the alternative reading might suggest that the forty years were also years of ambush, years of lying in wait as a military tactic. After all, didn’t everyone from the original exodus die during those forty years? What if the text read, “I have led you for years of ambush during which time your clothes did not wear out and your sandals did not deteriorate”?
Of course, the context of the verse probably prevents reading it in this way, but the thought is fascinating. The forty years were not simply punishment. They were years of military tactics in order to eliminate the first generation. In that sense, didn’t God use those forty years as an ambush? Of course, it was an ambush with divine purpose. It removed as much as possible the Egyptian saturation that accompanied the people who came across the Sea. It allowed natural attrition to become a weapon of purification. But I wonder if God didn’t decide to use this tactic rather than instantaneous elimination that He once proposed to Moses.
It makes me think that perhaps I don’t really appreciate the biggest picture of my life, the picture that God is working on as I plod along each day.
So far I’ve come so far from where I started but
I have so far to go to be where I want to finish.
So far God’s grace has provided and His mercy
Has carried me this far so far.
But so far I am from Him, and He seems so far from
Me
Just now. Forty years too far so far.
And forty more seem too far.
He set the trap, waylaid, surprise attacked,
So far gone now
And I long to find the end of so far.
Topical Index: forty years, ‘arbaim, ‘arabh, Deuteronomy 29:5
I think the curses were designed to provide mercy (time to repent) and grace (WAY to repent) IF we choose to respond correctly to them, that is. It is obvious, to me, anyway, that everything in my flesh is already geared for my destruction. Why? Because I am already a product of the choices of that destruction. I think the curses give me a different option, and a different motivation. If nothing else, they can give me time and a way to repent. I think the Children may have been given over to the devil for the destruction of their flesh, but that at least some of them were able to reflect and repent before they died. I have noticed God doesn’t seem to be into exercises in futility, anyway. He seems to be geared for results.
The Children participated in the giving of the Ten and promised to do all that they had heard. They sincerely thought they could. (Or, more like it, they weren’t actually thinking!) They obviously forgot to factor in the flesh, in which no good thing can be found. Why can’t it be? Because no good (untainted by sin) thing was inputted. If the law of the flesh is Do As You Are Done By, well, none of us were done by well. We are all coming out of Egypt. We have all been hung out on a line to dry. There is nothing truly real in our bank accounts to spend towards our own righteousness because none of us were loved adequately. We have “all turned aside” and pursued “our own way”. Why? Because we didn’t know any better. We followed all the bunnies that looked like love because we fell for all the lies that said that they were, and all we got was worn out and put back in our kennels.
The Children voluntarily promised to obey. I have noticed that they didn’t try to negotiate or beg for mercy or ask for help. They rashly threw down on their end of the Covenant and promised what they could not deliver. Now we know the wilderness was the end result of that presumption. Centuries later, their descendants would rashly vow again. This time they would declare “no king but Ceasar” and pull the curtain down around their own ears again by swearing “His blood be upon us and on our children”. No one asked them to say any of that. Another rash vow – and another cursed wilderness of wandering.
The forty years were a curse. The way I read it, the curses were designed to purge evil with evil. For example, the final curse is the lake of fire, and we are told its design is to destroy death with death. (I have noticed that that lake was never designed to destroy US, however.) The devil and his angels have been consigned to it: they know they are doomed, for they pulled their final curtain down around their ears when they inspired men to kill the Son of God. Now, the devil rages for his time is short, and he goes about seeking to pull us down to his fate, BUT, we still have to agree. We have to put ourselves within that curse. Ultimately, we curse ourselves. I have noticed the primary way we seem to pick to curse ourselves, however, most times anyway, appears to be with those overreaching, presumptuous vows.
How many times have I, in an effort to ‘look good’ to myself, God or others, spoken vows, either with my mouth or in my heart to myself, that ended up actual curses? If Skip is right in his extrapolation that every word that proceeds out of our mouth has the power to deliver or to doom us (well, how else am I supposed to read “what I say is my promise: “I am what I speak” – TW “Credit Score”?) then it may put a little different emphasis on the verse that warns us to consider the implications of the mouth that speaks both blessing and cursing. I may well consider following the advice of the wise man that suggests that the words of my mouth be few – especially when I am talking to the Most High!
It is interesting to think of this also from a nation’s point of view. We as a nation have so trashed God and His word. Talk about rash vows and curses coming out of many mouths!
We saw with the forty years that the children were punished as a nation. No evidence remains as to those who may have repented before they died although it is more than fair to think that happened.
Although I am an American, I do NOT agree with many things that our government decrees. Our leaders for the most part stopped being righteous men some time ago. (perhaps we suffer from the “no king but Caesar sickness”) I know there are many more who share that thought and so as a nation we may be punished (and most likely already are) but individuals remain who live to honor the Lord. Think remnants.
The thing that comforts me is that God knows each individual heart. He sees what men blind with power greed do not. All will answer alone at judgment for their choices.
It would be interesting to hear what those who wandered for forty years would have to say about their own journeys.
Fascinating thought.
Ah so far and it’s been so good.
I’ve often failed but He has drawn me on,
And very step it’s been so wonderful so testing,
But He has never failed and each step is closer than the last.
Now o know it’s far to go but how I long for each moment of promise as we walk.
I know there is an end to this road but I wonder do I really want to reach the end?
Thank you brother it is so good to walk together into His presence.
Le chaim, Shalom Shalom
Toda for sharing the yearnings of your heart, Skip.
Hopefully, prayerfully, it won’t be another forty years, too far, so far!
Shalom!