Stop Belly Aching

How many times do we find ourselves facing situations that seem impossible and end up on our knees begging God to do something or blaming Him for the situation? Many times as ministers we find those we counsel in these same situations as well.  Often times the situations are our own faults because of the choices we have made. This is exactly what Joshua does after the Israelite army runs in fear from the soldiers of Ai.

“Joshua sent about three thousand soldiers to attack Ai. But the men of Ai fought back and chased the Israelite soldiers away from the town gate and down the hill to the stone quarries. Thirty-six Israelite soldiers were killed, and the Israelite army felt discouraged. Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothes and put dirt on their heads to show their sorrow. They lay face down on the ground in front of the sacred chest until sunset. Then Joshua said: Our Lord, did you bring us across the Jordan River just so the Amorites could destroy us? This wouldn't have happened if we had agreed to stay on the other side of the Jordan. I don't even know what to say to you, since Israel's army has turned and run from the enemy. Everyone will think you weren't strong enough to protect your people. Now the Canaanites and everyone else who lives in the land will surround us and wipe us out”.   Joshua 7:4-10(CEV)

The LORD answered: Stop lying there on the ground! Get up!

I love how God answers this, just get up and stop complaining!  Not exactly what I like to hear when it is me He is talking to but today His answer actually made me laugh. It sounds like something I have said to my children before when they have thrown themselves on the floor and lay there whining and complaining. Has God ever said this to you? He has me and I can tell you when He has I have not liked it one bit! A reprimand from the Lord is NEVER pleasant but if we take what He says and follow His word His blessings will follow us. Later in this chapter we read, “Then the Lord stopped being angry with Israel.”(Jos 7:26) But this did not happen until the Joshua followed the orders that God gave him concerning the situation that had gotten them to this place.
Our Heavenly Father wants only the best for us. It is our decision whether we will follow His plans for our lives and for our ministries. He is just like an earthly Father in that He disciplines us when needed, comforts us and loves us. As ministers and leaders sometimes we have to tell those we are ministering to, “to get up and stop the complaining.”  It is our opportunity to pour God’s love and truth into the situations they may be facing.  I have seen so many people including myself (just being honest and real here) that have tried to pass the buck onto someone else and usually it is God who gets the blame. You see, “the LORD had said that everything in Jericho belonged to him. But Achan from the Judah tribe took some of the things from Jericho for himself. And so the LORD was angry with the Israelites, because one of them had disobeyed him.” (Josh 7:1)  This is the reason that the Lord did not help them win the battle that we just read above…this is why Joshua was belly aching.  He was blaming God and yet there was disobedience that took place.  He was trying to pass the buck onto God just like people do today. 

   Sometimes it’s hard to be in leadership, especially when we have to be the one to say “Get up and stop your belly aching” to those who need to hear the truth be spoken into their lives.  But before we can do that we must also look inside and examine our own hearts to see if there is anything that God is speaking this same word to us about.  Are you in need of a word like this today…“Stop lying there on the ground! GET UP!” What are you laying there complaining about? God has a plan for you and for your ministry - stop complaining and start praying!