You Pick One

Choices.

I hate to make the wrong choice, even on something as trivial as ordering dinner from the menu. My daughter Shawna always seems to get what I wish I would have ordered. I’ve toyed with just ordering what she gets every time, but then, what do I do when she’s not with me? I have to choose.

I saw something I’ve never seen before in the book of Joshua. At the end of the conquest of the Promised Land, Joshua got the pick of any city he wanted.

49 After all the land was divided among the tribes, the Israelites gave a piece of land to Joshua as his allocation. 50 For the Lord had said he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there. Joshua 19:49-50 NLT

Where would you pick? Green Bay? LA? Denver or Phoenix? Maybe a small quiet town is your thing, or somewhere tropical like Ft. Lauderdale or San Juan. (It is in a US territory)

I'm not sure what city I’d pick. We’ve been privileged to travel a lot and have either been in or through some very nice cities. I like Dallas a lot, and Nashville. Cindy wants to retire in Loveland, Colorado, provided we can still ski in our old age. But, it would also be hard to beat San Diego.

If I was Joshua, I’d be worried that I’d pick the wrong one. I always pick the wrong line at the grocery store, 100% of the time. Somehow I get the line that has the lady with the unmarked item AND she’s writing a check that needs managerial approval (and the manager is on their break). I’d be afraid of making the wrong choice. What if I picked Dallas, and God said, “I wanted to give you San Diego.” Or, if I chose San Diego, and God said, “Ok, but I was thinking of Honolulu.” So I decided if God ever asks me to pick the city, I’ll ask Him to pick for me. “I want to have the city You want me to have.”

If you remember, a similar situation worked out well for Solomon. God said to Solomon, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon answered and chose wisdom, and God told him He would grant him riches and fame as well.

Of course, it works the other way, too, which proves my point. Israel didn’t do so well at choosing whether to go into the Promised Land or not, or picking their own first king. God wanted to be their King. You can’t beat that. But, they settled for less than His best. That’s what it really comes down to for me. I want His best.

Since I am sure of God’s awesome love for me and His eternal wisdom, if He ever asks me to pick one of anything, here’s my answer,

“God I want to have whatever you want me to have. You pick the city, the friends, the house, and the career. I’ll also let You select the trials, troubles, disappointments and challenges, because I know I don’t always make the right choice, or even know what I really need. So, I’ll trust You, and take whatever You give me.”

"Oh, and thanks a lot…in advance."

Enjoying the Journey,

David