In our third series, we want to continue with our discussions on why God told the Israelites to go in and to take possession of the land which he swore to give to Abraham and his descendants. To recap, God told Moses in Deuteronomy 1: 8, behold, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and to their descendants after them. These are Moses’ recollection and testimony to the Israelites.
Although God instructed the people to go in and to possess the land, they complained that they were unable to do so after forty years of sojourning in the wilderness and long before that dating back to the days of Abraham. Why then did Israel complain about their inability to go in and take possession?
Israel failed to keep scripture
Although Israel was aware of what scripture had foretold of what their forefathers, they nevertheless found an excuse not to keep faith with God. Deuteronomy 1: 45, says the LORD went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night, and to show you what way you should go, and in the cloud by day. Israel had soon forgotten all God’s wonders in their lives particularly how God’s battles are fought e.g. how David killed Goliath their tormentor (1 Samuel 17: 24, 50-51).
We are to go into battle in God’s name or His might and not by our own because God’s battles are spiritual by nature. So Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, we are not contending against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Our physical efforts cannot win the battle against spirits. 1 Samuel 2: 9 says for not by might shall a man prevail. Zechariah 4: 6 says not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Our physical weapons of war are immaterial for spiritual warfare. 1 Samuel 17: 47 says the LORD saves not with sword or spear; for the battle is the LORDS and will give you into our hand.
If we must boast, we must do so of Christ Jesus whose name is above all powers. Psalms 20:7 says some boast of chariots and some of horses; but we boast of the name of the LORD our God. Unless we acquire scriptural knowledge and apply the same in all circumstances, we cannot possess what the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY has for us. We must have faith in God’s word of life through Christ Jesus.
Israel shifted focus from God
God’s promise or instruction requires focus and obedience. We are not allowed to add to it or subtract from it or mix or supplant God’s promise with other personal or external matters because it usurps God’s sovereign will. The spies confused altered and varied God’s instructions so as to justify their excuses why they cannot take possession of the land. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6: 20, O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. The devil will always derail us if we give him the chance to interpret scripture.
In Genesis 3: 1 the devil said to Eve, did God say you shall not eat of any tree of the garden? In tempting Jesus, the devil also said at Matthew 4: 6, if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, He will give his angels charge of you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. All the devil’s temptations are crafted to shift, confuse or mix our focus contrary to God’s intentions or instructions. Eve failed the test and we must not also fail.
Israel questioned God’s promise
Altering God’s promise or instructions in any way has consequences. God spoke through Moses and said to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 2: 1 not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land upon which he has trodden, because he wholly followed the LORD! We question God’s wisdom when we complain or react negatively about God’s instructions.
God disqualified Moses although he was known as God’s friend. God is not a respecter of any person but the purity of the heart. Moses said in Deuteronomy 2: 3-4 the LORD was angry with me also on your account, and said, you also shall not go in there; Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter; encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Moses was previously equally guilty by his reaction at the waters of Meribah as recorded in Numbers 20: 23-24.
In Acts 5: 29 Peter and the apostles said, we must obey God rather than men. In other words we must preserve exactly what God says without adding to or subtracting from it or changing its nature or character by any means. Matthew 5:18 says for truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. We must trust God to deliver on his promise no matter how long it may delay. His time is perfect and will surely come. The LORD be with us.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we have varied our possession by failing to believe in your unfailing promises. We repent today and ask for your mercy and forgiveness through your blood. Teach us to be humble and obedient to your instructions. Fortify us with scripture so we may be able to focus on you alone. Help us to hide your words in our hearts that we may not sin against you. Save our souls today in your holy name we pray, Amen!!
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