Moses' Challenge
During the Soul Survivor Camp 2007, we had an activity called the Moses' Challenge, which spanned a whole night, walking round and round Pasir Ris Park, till 5am, when the people finally reached the 'Promised Land'.
As part of the committee who planned the program, and after the evaluation meeting this sunday afternoon, I would like to make clear to the participants a few things, which I think the participants have the right to know.
1. The objectives
The idea of the activity is taken from the verse: Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Hence, the activity is not meant for the participants to enjoy, although if they enjoy, it's a plus and bonus for them. The objective of the planning committee is to frustrate, irritate, confuse, tire the participants, make them aimless, make them angry. As such, such sentiments were expected and anticipated. In fact, if you have displayed these sentiments, the planning committee has attained their objectives, so to speak. Therefore, the games played in the middle is not meant to entertain the participants. The rules were purposely made vague, purposely changed in the middle of the games, purposely made unclear. After all, it was the Egyptians who called the shots, not the Israelites, as far as God had allowed. Also it was meant to challenge the Israelites to the limit.
It was also in the same time, to allow the Israelites to work together despite being separated into tribes. That's why the Maze game had not prohibited the tribes in working together to find the items. We reserved the right to make the rules vague, or make the rules elaborate, although there really were cases we had to change the rules due to miscalculations. But if you have felt frustrated, congrats.
2. So what? My part...
I have been thinking, the 40 years out in the desert resembles our spiritual walk with God in certain sense. We are walking towards the Promised Land God has promised us through Jesus, just like what happened in the book of Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus. What happens is that sometimes God will lead us to road seemingly meaningless, we get frustrated, we get impatient, we dun know why are we going through all these trials and tribulations. This reminds me of this verse: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5).
However, God puts us through these experiences to mold our characters, so that we can better serve Him and be more potent salt and light. Just think about it, the Israelites went through this for 40 years, you only went through this for 4 hours. If even for 4 hours we cannot endure the trials and tribulations, then how can we expect ourselves to stand in the battlefront for God, where we fight to the death for the souls of man? The challenge is only 4 hours, and there we see complaints and frustrations. The Israelites travelled 40 years, 40 years, not knowing where God is leading them to. Desert some more.
Eventually, the trials and tribulations we have to undergo, as Christ followers, will be greater than that of the Israelites during the period of the Exodus as stated in Matthew 24 and Revelations. 4 hours vs 40 years?
By the way, I will reveal the answers soon, as long as I see that enough people attempt the test :)
As part of the committee who planned the program, and after the evaluation meeting this sunday afternoon, I would like to make clear to the participants a few things, which I think the participants have the right to know.
1. The objectives
The idea of the activity is taken from the verse: Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Hence, the activity is not meant for the participants to enjoy, although if they enjoy, it's a plus and bonus for them. The objective of the planning committee is to frustrate, irritate, confuse, tire the participants, make them aimless, make them angry. As such, such sentiments were expected and anticipated. In fact, if you have displayed these sentiments, the planning committee has attained their objectives, so to speak. Therefore, the games played in the middle is not meant to entertain the participants. The rules were purposely made vague, purposely changed in the middle of the games, purposely made unclear. After all, it was the Egyptians who called the shots, not the Israelites, as far as God had allowed. Also it was meant to challenge the Israelites to the limit.
It was also in the same time, to allow the Israelites to work together despite being separated into tribes. That's why the Maze game had not prohibited the tribes in working together to find the items. We reserved the right to make the rules vague, or make the rules elaborate, although there really were cases we had to change the rules due to miscalculations. But if you have felt frustrated, congrats.
2. So what? My part...
I have been thinking, the 40 years out in the desert resembles our spiritual walk with God in certain sense. We are walking towards the Promised Land God has promised us through Jesus, just like what happened in the book of Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus. What happens is that sometimes God will lead us to road seemingly meaningless, we get frustrated, we get impatient, we dun know why are we going through all these trials and tribulations. This reminds me of this verse: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5).
However, God puts us through these experiences to mold our characters, so that we can better serve Him and be more potent salt and light. Just think about it, the Israelites went through this for 40 years, you only went through this for 4 hours. If even for 4 hours we cannot endure the trials and tribulations, then how can we expect ourselves to stand in the battlefront for God, where we fight to the death for the souls of man? The challenge is only 4 hours, and there we see complaints and frustrations. The Israelites travelled 40 years, 40 years, not knowing where God is leading them to. Desert some more.
Eventually, the trials and tribulations we have to undergo, as Christ followers, will be greater than that of the Israelites during the period of the Exodus as stated in Matthew 24 and Revelations. 4 hours vs 40 years?
By the way, I will reveal the answers soon, as long as I see that enough people attempt the test :)
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