God & The Mannequin Challenge

In 2016 most of us were made aware of something called The Mannequin Challenge. It is a viral Internet video trend where people remain frozen in action like mannequins while a moving camera films them. It got old rather quickly but for a while it was cool. If you are unfamiliar with it, search for it online and watch a few of them. What makes the videos interesting is that nobody is going anywhere or doing anything in the videos. The camera is moving around, but everything else is still and silent. I find a parallel in our lives as believers and want to share a few thoughts about it today.

We were born for motion.  Things that don’t move ultimately die.  Change is not only necessary in our lives, it is highly beneficial.  Static Christianity is a contradiction in terms.  So believing that God ordains regular movement, change and growth for His children, I would like to acknowledge that we sometimes struggle with knowing when to move, how to move and/or where to move.  What if we are hasty and get ahead of the Lord’s plan?  What if we overcomplicate things and miss the obvious opening of a door in front of us by waiting too long?  This age old dilemma has paralyzed many a sincere saint over the centuries.  Wouldn’t it be nice if God still did things the way described below?

“At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out.  Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out.  And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out.  Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.  At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses…” – Numbers 9:18-23 {ESV}

Israel had it made.  They had been given by God their objective destination of Canaan’s land.  They had an appointed leader who God established to speak on His behalf – if Moses said it, God had authorized it.  To top it all off, they had a visible glory cloud which moved from place to place, signaling them to pack up and leave.  No guesswork.  No confusion.  No quandary of when, how, where or who. By the way…no faith either.  Not in the same sense that you and I discern God’s will today.

If I’m being honest, I like the fact that God sometimes allows for me to linger before Him without an immediate answer.  I’ve never had the glory cloud tell me to turn left.  I have grown to appreciate the method which God employs in making us seek Him with endurance.  Because of this we not only will receive our ultimate answer, but we also get to know the depths of pursuing Him in the process.  Some of you who read this today need some answers… and quickly.  Up to this point God doesn’t seem to be cooperating with what you deem to be a very urgent need.  He seems silent and you’ve been tempted to doubt His concern or involvement.  You long to obey Him but how can you obey if He is silent?  Well, the above passage says, “Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out…”

If God stayed still, so did His people.

More often than not, God’s silence is actually an answer.  His not speaking carries as much authority as His speaking.  When Israel arose to see the glory cloud still abiding in the same place, they had their answer.  They did not move from that location and, by not doing so, they honored God’s desire for them to abide at the last place He led them.  Sometimes He communicates similarly to you: “Keep being where I last told you to be, keep doing what I last told you to do.  I’ll make it clear when it’s time to pack up and move.  I’m well able to get My instructions through to you when I’m ready to bring about a change of scenery.”

Years ago, when facing some decisions about the direction of the ministry given to me, I felt my heart sprinting toward something that God was silent concerning.  Quite frankly, I was weary with being still and sitting in my Assistant Pastor cubicle.  Those were the driest of days for me.  I felt that I needed some motion because I was born for it.  What I learned was that my second-birth also included a need for me to learn how not to move at all.  I was born again for contentment in Christ – whether He was staying still or sprinting.  Hastiness is a seemingly small fault in a person but, once it unpacks itself, much trouble appears.  So be still today.  Be patient today.  Interpret His silence and stillness as His blaring message for you to wait upon Him.  His timing is precise…and usually arrives after your own inner-deadline has passed.

Glorify Him right now by remaining in the camp and not setting out.  If Israel could do it in the desert by sight, you can do it in the Spirit by faith.