3 Ways my Puppy is Reminiscent of the Israelites in the Wilderness

We got a new Lab puppy. He’s the light of my life. My heart feels like the Grinch’s, just growing so much, so fast it could explode. I want him close to me, preferably laying on the couch cuddling me. But, he’s a lab, and we are trying to teach him good habits. Simultaneously, I am reading through the book of Numbers. I couldn’t help but see the Israelites (and myself) through the lens of a new dog mom.

1. He is stubborn. When I grab him, he squirms, scratches, and bites me and I eventually have to put him down. I think, “Why can’t you just be still and let me love you?” It makes me think of the song by Casting Crowns, “Just Be Held.” Isn’t this a picture of God? He just wants us to calm down, be still, and enjoy his presence. And we kick and scream and bite and run because we have our own agenda. In Numbers 14 the Israelites have finally made it to the promise land! But they refuse to accept it because they are scared. They go as far to plan to stone Joshua and Caleb for suggesting that God will make a way.
2. Not cool with changing the plan. I have a morning routine. I feed the pup and take him out. Then I have quiet time and coffee, and get ready. After that I take the pup out to play and make my smoothie last thing before I go. The other day I was running late so I made the smoothie first to optimize play time all the way until I walked out. He DID NOT like this. He was like, “Hello, what about me, are you just going to skip play time !?” Don’t we do that to God when it feels like he skipped over us? So, as the story goes, God says (in my own words) because you complained you will be skipped over and you will not enter the promise land, but your children will. They are like wait this isn’t fair, we’re ready now!! And then try it without him and they die. God’s plan is good, friends. Stick to the plan, He knows what he is doing.
3. Trust. But more than anything having a pup has taught me what true trust is. Trust that when I leave him in the crate he can hold his urine because he knows I will be back to let him out. Trust that at meal time a meal is coming. And trust that when I discipline him it’s for his own protection. (We’re still working on that one )

The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

Numbers 11:23 NIV

Although things looked bleak in the wilderness of Numbers the Lord always provided. He always kept his promises, and he is still keeping them.