Camping With God

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ne of the things I loved most about our house was its backyard.  We had several trees, a row of bushes that separated our property from one set of neighbors, a neat ditch that separated us from the neighbors behind us, and a common driveway creating the property line with the neighbors on the other side of our home.  There was enough mischief in the backyard for an inquisitive, growing boy like me.  Needless to say, I took full advantage of the opportunity and got into more than my share of trouble.

The kids in our neighborhood also liked our backyard.  We would gather there for games of hide-and-seek, or to play basketball on our goal, or to play baseball, or just to swing on the swings.  One time, my dad erected a huge tent for us and all of the neighborhood boys came over and we camped out. 

Being in that tent was a big adventure. Here we were out in the big outdoors, sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, eating chips, watching television, and going into the house anytime we wanted to raid the pantry.  So much for braving the great outdoors!  We were really roughing it, weren’t we?  Indiana Jones had nothing on us!

I have often thought of that night long ago when six boys got to spend the night in that tent.  Although we were camped in the backyard, we knew that anything we needed was just a few steps away.  Mom and Dad left the backdoor unlocked so that we could have direct access to the house.

Camping was not a foreign concept to the peoples of the Old Testament.  In fact, several of the patriarchs lived in tents and moved from place to place, following God’s leading and direction.  But their needs were always met and God provided for them and for their families.  This is nowhere more evident than in the story of Abraham, especially when God promised to give him all the land he could see.

In Genesis 13, we find the account of Abraham and his nephew Lot.  They were travelling and living together in the land God promised to Abraham.  Their families and possessions soon grew too large and they were in conflict with each other.  So, Abraham gave Lot his choice of the land and told him to settle where he wanted.  After making his choice, Lot and Abraham separated.  It was at this time that God came to Abraham and promised to provide for him and his family.

Genesis 13:17 is a small verse; but packed inside is one of the most wonderful promises in all the Scriptures.  God makes the following promise to Abraham: “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”  Wow! What a promise and what a command!

Did you notice the first word of the verse?  Abraham was not to sit idly by, looking at the land.  Instead, he was to “arise” and “walk” in the land, to explore its length and width, to live in it, and to enjoy it.  As long as Abraham remained in the land, he remained in the center of God’s provision for his life.  Wherever he went, he was in God’s provision.  Whatever he saw, it was in God’s provision.  Everything he touched, smelled, ate, and did was in God’s provision.

Abraham’s life was full because he lived it completely upon the land that God provided.  God’s own words were for him to walk its “length and width.”  A few verses before, God told Abraham to look as far as he could see in all four directions and all the visible land would belong to him and to his descendants.

This story has wonderful implications and applications for us today.  God’s promise of provision remains. God never calls any of us to a place of service unless He first provides all that we need for the task at hand.  God never leaves us holding the bag and he never fails to meet every need we have. As long as we remain in the land, that is, in his provision, then everything we do, think, and touch comes directly from our Heavenly Father.  The secret is to remain in his provision, wherever that may lead.  Abraham lived in several places after arriving in the Promised Land.  However, wherever he pitched his tent, he was always living in God’s provision and so was his family.  God provided for them all.

That evening in the backyard of our home was a wonderful experience.  We stayed in the tent but we also had full access to the pantry!  Whatever my dad had in the house he gave to us to enjoy.  Our Heavenly Father is the same way.  As long as we seek to live in the center of his will and as long as we are content to live in his provision, we will always be satisfied and will always have all that we need.  So, when was the last time you slept in a tent?  Don’t you want to go camping with God?  I highly recommend it!