But I also gave part of Gilead to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The area I gave
them extended from the middle of the Arnon Gorge in the south to the Jabbok River
The above verse is found where the Israelites are
getting ready to finally leave the dessert (after 40 years of wandering) and
cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
The Israelites had conquered land where they were and Moses divided the lands
they’d taken between some of the tribes. The boundaries were clear and
detailed. And they had a purpose.
While this might seem as far as we can get from
food and eating issues, the truth is boundaries are talked about consistently
throughout scripture and we can learn from them, even when they’re talking
about land.
God always
gives us boundaries for our good and His glory.
In the case of the Israelites, God gave them
boundaries so each of the tribes would have their own space and be able to live
freely to worship Him and be able to grow and prosper.
In the case of putting boundaries around our
eating, we have the opportunity to live free of negative consequences of bad
eating and be blessed with energy and strength to grow and prosper –
emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
I was talking to a friend yesterday about a time
when I could eat anything I wanted and was losing weight. That’s really what my flesh wants – to have what I want when I want and
still look how I want. The problem was what was happening on the inside
during this time. My pancreas had shut down and while I might have looked good,
by body wasn’t able to use what I was giving it and was slowly being destroyed.
That is not worth being the size I’d prefer to be.
Once we figured out what was going on and I was
put on insulin, I gained weight and had to put some fairly strict boundaries
around my eating, but I felt a world better!
Our health is
never a sacrifice worth making.
The costs to every area of our lives are too high.
But that knowledge doesn’t always make staying
within our boundaries easy. That’s because boundaries aren’t easy. They are
difficult, just as most things with a reward are. Sticking with a diet can work
for a while, but we generally have a “short-term sacrifice” mindset. This will
only give up short-term results.
A lifetime of
appropriate boundaries is the only thing that will give us lifetime results.
What boundaries do you need in eating? Have you
prayed about it? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to heal the parts of you that
turn to food instead of Him for comfort, rejuvenation, relaxation, and/or
fulfillment? Have you asked God for strength to live within your boundaries so
you have the physical wherewithal to live abundantly for Him?
These are decisions and prayers that would
benefit us, and sometimes are necessary every day. I’m not sure how often I’ve
made a commitment to do better, to live better, to be successful this time.
Usually in my own strength. But today (and maybe tomorrow, and the next day and
the next) I’m asking for God-centered boundaries and God-infused strength on
this food journey. Won’t you join me?
