I'm Not Going!

What was it like the day before the Israelites crossed the River Jordan? Do you suppose that any of them didn't want to go? This sermon is about someone like that. He wanted to stay in the desert because... You'll have to read my sermon to find out why. You might even know him!

The whole Israelite camp was excited. It was virtually humming with activity! The women were packing cooking pots and utensils, and the men were gathering the sheep and identifying their own animals. Even the children were helping by rolling their clothing into bundles that were easy for them to carry. Why all this commotion? Because, at long last, the Israelites finally were getting ready to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. On the day before, Moses had called them together and reminded them of all that God had done for them during their 40 long years in the desert. He had assured them that God’s presence would continue to guide them. And then, God had commissioned Joshua to lead the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. No wonder that everyone was excited! Everyone, that is, except Micah. That’s Micah’s tent right over there. He’s not doing any packing. In fact, he’s not doing anything at all right now. He’s sitting inside his tent with his arms crossed, glaring at anyone who comes by, and muttering, “I’m not going.”

That didn’t make much sense to the rest of the people. Why would anyone choose to stay behind in the desert when the Promised Land is just across the river? So some of his friends decided to ask him. They had weathered Micah’s moods before; so they marched into his tent and got to the point.

“Micah, we heard that you aren’t coming with us tomorrow when we cross the River Jordan. Is that true?” Micah’s scowl and crossed arms gave them the answer. “Why in the world are you doing this? We’ve been waiting 40 years for this to happen! Look at how beautiful it is on the far side of the river! Look at all the green grass and trees – fig trees and olive trees! Why stay here in the sand?”

“I like the sand,” growled Micah. “It’s cool on my feet in the morning and warm in the evening. Besides, the sunrises are beautiful out here; and at night, I can see the stars.”

“There will be sunrises and stars in the Promised Land, too,” his friends replied. “And I’m sure that the grass will be just as cool on your feet in the morning.”

Micah’s only response was, “I’m not going.”

His friends tried again. “But Micah, think of all the wonderful food that there will be in the Promised Land. God has promised us milk and honey to eat! Aren’t you tired of eating manna day in and day out?”

“Manna’s fine,” Micah muttered. “Besides, I’ll bet that we’ll have to work for that milk and honey after we cross the river. God does the work on this side. All we have to do is go out every morning and pick up the manna off the ground. I like being taken care of.”

“So, let me get this straight,” one of his friends drawled. “You’re willing to give up all the promise of a new land because you don’t want to do any work? That doesn’t make any sense! You’ve always been one of hardest working men here!” Micah said nothing. His friends shook their heads. “OK, then. We’ll miss you.” And off they went.

Then, Micah’s family came to see him – his sons and their wives, his daughters and their husbands, and his whole brood of grandchildren.

“Papa,” they cried, “what is this that we hear? You’re not coming with us tomorrow?”

“You heard right,” Micah answered, “I’m staying right here.”

“But why? All our lives we’ve heard stories about the Promised Land. And now – you’re not coming with us?!”

“Nope,” said Micah.

They pleaded and they cajoled and they begged; and none of it did any good. Micah refused to change his mind. Finally, after many tears and hugs, they, too, left Micah alone.

All but one. Micah’s granddaughter Deborah couldn’t bring herself to leave him. After the rest of the family went on, she crept back to Micah’s side as he sat in the shadows of his silent tent. “Papa,” she whispered, “why are you doing this thing? What is going on in that stubborn head of yours?”

Micah’s face softened, and there was a long silence. “For forty years,” he finally answered, “for forty years, this desert has been my home. I’ve gotten used to it, and I know how to live here. What would I do in a Promised Land? Where would I fit in? Better that I stay here.”

“There will be room for everyone in the Promised Land,” Deborah assured him. “We will all have to learn how to do some new things. But God will be guiding us! You don’t have to be afraid, Papa!”

“I’m an old dog,” said Micah, heaving a huge sigh. “I can’t learn new tricks! You youngsters learn easily, but me… My learning days are over. Why, I could never learn to do that newfangled thing that all you kids are wild about! What is it called? Writing? Nope,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s too hard for me!”

“Then let us do the writing, Papa,” Deborah replied. “We need you to do something else. We need you to keep telling the stories that you told us. If you love the past, that’s OK. But don’t keep it in the desert – bring it across the Jordan with us! What would we do if we forgot the stories about how we had to make bricks in Egypt; or about how we crossed the Red Sea while Pharaoh’s army chased us; or about how God talked to Moses and it sounded like thunder at the top of Mt. Sinai. Why, Moses was gone so long that everybody thought he was dead! But he came back – and he brought us God’s law. You need to remember those stories for us, and tell them like your mom and dad told them to you.”

Micah’s eyes filled with tears. “My mom and dad,” he whispered. “My mom and dad are buried somewhere out there in the desert. So is your grandmother. How can I cross the Jordan River and leave them all behind?”

“Oh, Papa!” Deborah cried, flinging her arms around Micah. “They wouldn’t want you to stay here! How many times did your mom and dad say to you, ‘We’ll never see the Promised Land; but one day you will.’ And how many times did you and grandma talk about how beautiful it would be? They always kept moving ahead, even when they weren’t sure what might happen! They would want you to do that, too.”

Micah was silent for a moment, and then he said slowly, “Maybe… I’ll think about it…”

So… How did the story end? Did Micah decide to cross the river with the rest of God’s people? Or did he stay in the desert because his past was there – and so was his comfort level. You’ll have to decide for yourself how the story ends, because Micah’s story is your story, too – and mine. Even though God calls us to move ahead into the future, God doesn’t insist that we go. Every single day, we can decide to follow God’s leading and travel to places we have never been before; or we can decide to stay put. After all, even the Promised Land can be threatening, because it means trying some new things that we’ve never done before. But as you’re deciding whether to stay or to move ahead, remember God’s assurance to Joshua: “I will go before you and be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you. Don’t be afraid, and don’t be discouraged.” That’s God’s promise to us, too. So… what’s the decision? Stay… or go?