Push a round object like a ball on a smooth surface and it will roll away. The only way it will come back is if it is retrieved. The interpreters of the King James Bible translated the Hebrew word 'galal' as 'commit,' but its literal meaning in Hebrew is ‘roll.’
Give Trouble To God and Leave It There
Committing yourself to know God more fully means you can trust Him more fully, too. Roll your concerns to God and don't snatch them back. Trust Him despite appearances to handle the storms His way. Most importantly, learn who He is so that trust comes easily. Galal your way unto the Lord and take delight.
Examples of the word galal as it is used in scripture include:
- Psalm 37:5 -“Commit (roll) everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.”
- Proverbs 16:3 - “Commit (roll) your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”
A derivative of galal can be found in Joshua 5:9, which says, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “’This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ Therefore the name of the place is called “Gilgal to this day.”
Knowing God's Character Makes Trust Easy
The picture that scripture paints with the word galal is of a literal shoving or pushing of worries, concerns, and life, itself, towards the One who can best handle them. The only way worries will return is if they are snatched back.
Once during a powerful storm on the sea of Galilee, Jesus slept soundly in the back of the boat as his disciples battled the winds and weather. They were understandably upset. It’s easy to imagine the anger and terror in their voices when they asked Him if He cared whether they lived or died. In reply Jesus simply stood and told the storm to behave itself, and it did. They expected Him to man an oar, which certainly seemed the most logical thing to do, but He handled the storm in His own unique way.
Commitment and trust in God doesn’t come from a superficial understanding. Trust isn’t normally given to a stranger or passing acquaintance. The kind of trust it takes to fully commit life’s good and bad to God arises from a deep understanding of His nature and character. That is why God says to commit and delight in Him; the two are not mutually exclusive. To know Him is to trust Him.
God Wants People to Know Him Intimately
God likens Himself in scripture to a Father, a Brother, a Husband, a Bridegroom, a Comforter, a Rescuer and a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. King David, one of the first rulers of ancient Israel, had such a deep understanding of God's roles in his life that many of his psalms read like love poetry. In Psalm 27:8, David says: "My heart has heard you say 'come and talk with me.' and my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming'."
David met God in prayer with an earnest, honest heart and God responded with love, protection, friendship and guidance. There was no religion involved, no dogma that made David love God so deeply. There was only relationship, trust and understanding. David committed Himself to God and God took up the causes of David's life. God's solutions were not always what David expected, but He knew God enough to trust His judgment
In other scriptures, David talks about diligently searching the scriptures to learn more about God, and congregating with others who yearn to know God, too. He likens the search for God to a deer panting for water. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends."
Committing to the Lord Means Rest
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28,29: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Being in God's rest doesn't mean that He'll remove troubles upon demand. In much the same way that parents allow children to learn through experience, God decides which life lessons are the best for personal and spiritual growth. But God does promise to give comfort, strength and peace through the rough times and to walk side-by-side with those who trust Him for the best outcome.
In Psalm 37:3-5, David--the man after God's own heart--said: “Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit (roll) everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you.”
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