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St Francis Magazine Vol 8, No 2 | April 2012 you good in the end.” 128 This same theme of preparation for greater blessings via the road of suffering can be found in Deut 30:5, the life of Job (Job 42:16) and the message to the Hebrews (cf. Romans 8:18). They are reminded to “recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings” (10:32) and urged to press on and not to “throw away your confidence, which has a great reward” (10:35). They needed to recognize that what was needed in this pilgrim march was “endurance” and just like their Hebrew ancestors they might “receive what is promised” (10:36). History, however, demonstrates that for all of YHWH’s promises, they preferred to find avoidance mechanisms for the liminal state. 7.2 Avoidance of liminality “Are you one of his followers?” asked the servant girl to Peter. “Never.” Why would one want to be seen to be associated with One who said that “his kingdom is not of this world” who hearkened from Galilee, who was now pushed to the periphery of Jewish society now that he was condemned to die the humiliating death of crucifixion reserved for political rebels and murderers. Not a chance would he want to be identified with this Jesus. The question was asked to the old covenant Hebrews. “Why live in this liminal state where we have to depend on YHWH for everything. Let’s take matters into our own hands. Let’s select our own leader, let’s push our own way into the promised land, or if that doesn’t work let’s return to Egypt. Let’s call into question the ability of our leaders and our Leader by making comparisons to where we used to be. “ 128 The Complete Jewish Bible. Examples of a “good” destination, i.e. Canaan or the Lord doing “good” to Israel are peppered throughout the book of Deuteronomy. Examples are: “houses full of good things”; “good land beyond the Jordan”; “the good land which the Lord gives you”; “that goodly hill country”; “as the Lord took delight in doing good and multiplying you.” 259