Soccer in the wilderness
Street ball is a version of soccer that ignores the beauty of teamwork and the strength of passing in order to elevate one player. It is fixating so much on the ball and scoring that you end up running around chasing to get the ball. Preschool children play this version of soccer; it is a chaotic ball of swinging feet and arms as everyone chases the ball. I often describe this “preschool ball.”
Come middle school the key is learning and practicing the basics of ball control and actual team work to move the ball down the field and score. By maintaining “preschool ball” mentality, students can become so focused on scoring that they neglect those around them and just dribble down, most times losing the ball. I have told them the key component to winning is not about scoring, but learning how to get the ball to the goal in order to kick it in.
I continue to come back to the Israelites in the wilderness. With their eyes set on the Promised Land, it must have been easy to get discouraged or neglect the work that God was doing in their midst. Moses often had to remind or say to them, “stand back and watch as God works.” With a pillar of fire in their midst you would think they would be satisfied with where they are at because God was literally in their midst.
Yet, that was not enough for them. I am guessing it was easy to look at other established people groups and cultures as they traveled past and become dissatisfied with what was going on with them. All that mattered was “scoring” or going into the promised land. God had been with them through all the major transitions and events revealing his power and glory. God showed up, met with them, taught them how to become a strong community, and provided and protected them. Obviously, it was his way, and as a called-out people with a specific role, it did not look like any other nation. Human nature tends to compare and contrast, which leads to discontentment or even jealousy. God provided manna to take care of them, and they complained. God gave them what they wanted - meat, and soon they got sick of that and complained.
When they finally got to the Promised land they panicked and neglected to trust God and well, didn’t score. The key lesson for them was to focus more on what God was doing in their midst each step of the way and worry less about what they were not getting. Whether in the Promised Land or the wilderness, God is steadfast and good. Prioritize God first and everything will fall into place, and that happens when we are willing to walk God’s pace and be obedient to his will. Yes, they would get to their destination but as the old adage goes, “It’s not about the destination it is about the journey.”
