Different Action Words

When Jeremiah spoke to the people of Israel saying, "Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls,"  (Jeremiah 6:16), they were facing imminent disaster, yet, his words tell them there is still time.  When we face difficulties, uncertainly, and danger, the last thing we want to do is to be still.  The mistake we often make in those crossroad moments is rushing ahead of our future.  What the Word of God calls us to do in those moments is so different from the action every part of us wants to take.    

What we want to do is to take action, not pause.  We want something to change quickly and decisively.  Waiting for God's future is not what we do best.     The action called for by Jeremiah is more the action of being rather than the action of doing.  The three action words are "stand...look...ask..."   The word stand points to stillness.  The word "look" speaks of a seeking of perspective.  The word "ask"  points toward receiving external help.     

These three words take us to a place within our hearts where things that are not always seen can be seen.  And to see those things of the Spirit require a different mindset, a willingness to pause in the midst of what is not known, and a desire to know the intentions of the Creator God Who brought us to the crossroad.  As we stand in those crossroad moments in our life, there is still time.  There is something important to be determined.  And, the way may not be within us, but out there somewhere still to be seen.