Over There

Where is “over there”, not here. It will be different for everyone. For instance when I look out my bedroom window I can see across the valley to the mountains on the other side and I think about the people who live over there. I can often see clouds while I experience clear blue skies above me and I think about how their weather is different to mine. I cannot see them but I know they are there; they have different jobs and different houses, cars and family situations.

If I look out my front door and turn slightly to my left, I see our shed that is used to house our chooks and I hope that the chooks. While I am not afraid to go over there I rarely do as my presence upsets the chooks. To them I feel like a threat to their quiet secure life.

I was thinking about how the Israelites stood on the shores of the Red Sea and wondered how they were going to get over there to the other side (Exodus 14) and God provided a means for them to cross and they moved because they were afraid of what was behind them. I also thought about how they stood along the shore of the Jordon River and refused to cross over there to the Promised Land and how they refused to move forward because they were afraid of what was in front of them (Numbers 14).

I admire Abram, who, when told by God to go over there where He would show him, he packed up and went. Abram moved into a different way of life and moved forward in faith. As we move forward in faith we will sometimes encounter different weather, things that feel like threats and situations that may make us feel uncomfortable and afraid. However, like Abram God goes with us and all we need to do is hold His hand.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9.