An Oak of Shechem

So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Genesis 35:4 (New International Version)

When the children of Israel had made a golden calf and proceeded to worship it, Moses ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. When Jacob was handed the objects of false worship he buried them under an oak tree. Both actions represented a distinct closure of wrong turns and the opportunity to start fresh. Both actions showed in a tangible way a funeral of sorts.

My point is this. Sometimes an end of something has to be drastic in order for the door of freedom to open. Hence, the need for alcoholics to pour liquor down a drain, for individuals to burn piles of pornographic literature, for smokers to destroy and discard packs of cigarettes, and for other addicts to do whatever it takes to break free of their addiction. They go beyond getting rid of it or just giving it to someone else. They destroy what seeks to destroy them.

A month ago, I opened myself up to an area of addiction. It wasn’t wrong in and of itself. As a matter of fact, at one time it was a beneficial part of my journey. But that beneficial part eventually became an addiction and had to be removed from my life. Over the course of a year or so I sensed within me a strength to reintroduce part of it back into my life through a couple of avenues including the purchase of a book. That action was enough to throw me off track on a journey intended to bring me to freedom. I was once again in the throws of an addiction and it was affecting numerous areas in my life including significant relationships. Like Moses and like Jacob, drastic measures needed to be taken. What were they?

Confession of wrong choices and accepting once again the truth that this particular area is off limits to me. Not out of punishment but rather for freedom. Some things needed to be deleted from my computer. Then came the question of what to do with the book. Give it away? Throw it away? No, something more profound and tangible that would represent a dieing off. I proceeded to pull the book apart, shred every page in a paper shredder, and then with shovel in hand head to the back yard for the burial. Each scoop of dirt loosened the grip of addiction and released me to continue finding my way to freedom. I awoke this morning with the absence of the oppression and sadness that has marked my path for the past month. My thoughts are clearer and my heart is lighter because I went back to the place where I had veered off the path and repositioned myself to re-enter it with joy! This time I didn’t need a Bethel experience…I needed an oak of Shechem.

Father, You have wooed me back to Yourself in a powerful way. Thank you for the forgiveness and freedom that has resulted from it. Amen.

I Need Thee Every Hour - Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ULhi1szjk

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.