My Mean Strict Parents

Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Deuteronomy 1:27

When I was a kid, I observed that some of my friends had a lot fewer rules at home. In fact, it seemed that for some of my friends, there were no rules. They got to do whatever they wanted, go wherever they wanted, and stay out as late as they wanted. I had rules. I had a curfew. In fact, I had a bedtime. My parents were mean and strict whereas my friend’s parents were fun and permissive. I wish my parents were more loving and less strict. At least that was my perspective back then. I can now see that I completely misinterpreted my parent’s discipline. It was precisely because of their love that they enforced the rules. They could see what I could not, and they knew that I needed boundaries. My parents loved me enough to parent me appropriately, even when I thought their parenting inappropriate.

This is where the Israelites found themselves in today’s passage. In the narrative, Moses reflected on his people’s response when God commanded them to conquer the land of Canaan. As their spies reported a mighty people in the land, the Israelites quaked in fear. Why does God hate us? Why would he make us do this? Why is he so mean? God promised they’d be victorious, but still the Israelites were daunted by such a terrifying foe and so, they looked upon God as a mean, cruel parent.

Many of us have found ourselves here. When life doesn’t go the way we think it should, we take our concerns to God, asking him to fix our problems. When he doesn’t do exactly as we think he should, we assume evil intent. Don’t you love me God? Why wouldn’t you heal my sick family member? In doing so, we act with the same immaturity, short-sightedness, and self-centeredness that I did with my parents. As far beyond my childhood comprehension as my parents were though, God is infinitely beyond our comprehension. He can see what we cannot, and he has his own plans and purposes that may never make sense to us.

You have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son (Deuteronomy 1:31) . . . In their trials, when the Israelites questioned God’s goodness, he reminded them how he’d carried them this far, as a father carries his child. God reminded his people of his great love for them and promised he’d walk with them through the trials.

God doesn’t promise that we won’t experience trials. He just promises that we’re far better off if we walk through them with him. God loves us, even when we don’t see it. Our job is to believe and follow him, even when we don’t feel like it.