There are a lot of exciting stories in the Bible but I don’t think any can match the drama or lessons in the pilgrimage of the Israelites from Egypt to Caanan. The journey started with an incredible series of miracles including perhaps the most dramatic of all, the parting of the Red Sea. The day of entry into Caanan was almost as dramatic when the priests stepped into the Jordan which was overflowing and before their feet touched down, the ground below was dry and when they had crossed over, the waters began to flow again.
The land flowing with milk and honey was now theirs. All they had to do was to possess it and God was going to empower them to do it. The manna ceased (Joshua 5:12) when they entered the promised land and an abundant harvest (which they didn’t even have to cultivate) was all theirs.
With the miracles God had performed, one would think they would have 100% confidence in God and his word. This confidence was short lived as we all know. We are no different. We have not possessed the land. The enemy runs rampant among us and it’s almost like we don’t care. We shake our heads in amazement and do little or nothing to change things. Are we a defeated people?
Let’s look at the lessons we can learn from their travels.
1. Their disobedience kept all of the adult men except two from experiencing the best God had to offer. We miss a lot of what God has to offer because we are satisfied with manna.
2. The command to possess the land was not an “If you do this, I will bless you thing. It was a COMMAND and nothing less. Not to possess the land was and is disobedience.
3. However, the command was a command with promise. God did not expect them or us to go it alone. He will be there if we will be faithful.
4. The descendants of the Caananites are the very people that are giving us so much grief today.
5. All too briefly, let me capsule all this. Our country is being overcome and infiltrated by the enemy like never before. We could all tell horror stories of how Christians are mistreated. I do not believe God expects us to do no more than retreat to the church and pray in secret. He expects us, like He did the Israelites to be warriors, to be pro-active. We are not to be door mats to be walked on by others. We must discover how to take a stand even if it is unpopular.
By no means do I advocate radical actions such as bombing abortion clinics. We are to open our doors and hearts, without condemnation, to gays, unwed mothers, drug addicts, and anyone else who is hurting. We must do more than just say we care. We must find some action that involves caring action. We also must understand some of the illegal actions the enemy takes to try to intimidate us.
I realize I have raised more questions than I have answered but perhaps I have provoked enough thought that together we will start looking for some solutions.
We cannot change the entire world. We can only change the small portion to which we have been assigned. That’s all we have to do. Let’s do it!
