Forty years had passed since Israel entered the desert from Egypt. An abortive attempt was made decades earlier to take the land. Moses refused to lead the people into Promised Land when they demurred. They had wavered with the doubting spies, and rejected any invasion. Perceiving Moses’ deep disappointment, the people determined to go forward putting their own views aside. But, according to Moses, the window of opportunity had closed. A period of waiting must be endured. Not persuaded, the people invaded the land, likely to invite their old leader to take over again when they had secured position. They were turned back, and wandered in the wilderness until a new generation was birthed to take over. Moses was old at the beginning. After nearly forty years, he is too much older and will die before entering the land. His vision of the people was regenerated, and Joshua was committed to complete the venture. In a few words God gave Moses final directive. The people have been here long enough. Get on with the plan. Under Joshua they did go in, and gained the land, much of which they occupy today, after 3,500 years.
I was driving to my preaching point on a Sunday morning in late February, 1970. I had been invited to interview for a college presidency in San Francisco – and went. I was issued the invitation to accept an appointment. My wife was unsure, and felt somewhat depressed about making a decision for change. If it must be given at this time, the answer is, No. So much had been invested in our lives: in the completion of my formal education; in the privilege of serving, at the moment, as Dean of the College where I had taught for nearly thirteen years; and, in the fulfillment of a growing ministry as a plenary speaker in several countries of the world as well as serving for periods of interim in various churches. Books were written and published. Why would I leave the obvious blessing for the unsure? I had never planned to be a first executive.
In some distress, my wife decided not to accompany me that morning. This had never happened before this date. I drove to the church, 100 miles distant, with a heavy heart. I would not accept the offer without the affirmation of my wife. She had given so much to everything in my life, I would not overrule her feelings. It was about the 75th mile that I turned on the car radio, something I seldom did on my drives to churches. A female voice came out of the silence: You have compassed this mountain long enough. The speaker at a church with a radio program began her sermon. I caught her quotation from Deuteronomy, and the debate was over. I was to go, and this was my assurance that all would be well. My wife did not broach the issue again.
A month transpired. The Chairman of the Board awaited my response. My wife and our daughters were with me on the date when I was to appear to offer decision. On our visit one of my daughters who had been unsure, said privately to me, Dad, how can you say, ‘No,’ to these people? The other said she believed that whatever I did was the right thing. My wife surprised me: You should accept them. I then told her of my radio epiphany. I continue to be amazed at the guidance of God, in this instance by family and his word to Moses. I felt an unusual peace in that there were several factors that agreed so to make the decision more than my own. The coalescing of factors is an important process to keep the individual from arrogance and know it all for others. To illustrate complexity: God’s meaning for Israel’s delay to take Canaan may have been to wait for Joshua’s time to lead, and that after the filling of the cup of the gross sins of the Canaanites. We need to remember that the Canaanites were a part of the plan as God formed it. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020