The Promised Land

A few weeks ago when I was in church something from the sermon jumped out at me and I began to write fast and furiously in my journal about it.  I honestly can't remember if I ended up blogging it but I do know that I sat with the idea for a good long while and it has colored how I've thought of things since.  Today the sermon took me back to that same realization and I now have to write about it. 

It stuck me that the story of the Exodus from Egypt is an Old Testament rendition of the Christian life.  Let me explain. 

In the book of Exodus, Moses was told by God to go into Pharaoh's palace to claim the freedom of the more than one million Israelite slaves.  He was to not negotiate with Pharaoh.  He was simply told to insist that they be given their freedom.  Upon their departure, after much strife and struggle with the Egyptian ruler, they were to go wandering into the desert so that they might receive their marching orders (The Ten Commandments) just prior to entering into the Promised Land--the place the Lord had set aside for them and their progeny.  God had it all mapped out and had determined that He would provide for them and bless them richly in their new land. 

The only problem was that the Israelites refused to enter the Land. Upon hearing the report from spies they sent in to inspect the new territory, they chose to remain in the desert where they thought life was safer.  Wrong move.  God therefore allowed them to wallow in their poor choice for the next forty years till an entire generation (or two) died off and the next generation were willing to enter in to take what He'd given them years before. 

When the next generation were finally ready to enter into the Promised Land, they sought the Lord and heard from Him first as to how to go about claiming the land.  He told them step by step what to do and as long as they followed His directions, they were successful and overwhelmed with His provision and blessing.  It was not until they deviated from His plans for them that they suffered and eventually lost their opportunity to live on the land. 

Well, this is where the story ends from years ago but picks up in our own personal lives.  Track with me if you can.  The Lord has told us the story of Moses and the Israelites which is also to serve as a foreshadowing of what is to take place in our own lives.  You see, we all at one time lived in slavery (many in this world still do).  We lived according to the desires of our flesh, our selfish desires, our sinful natures.  We did whatever we wanted with no regard for whether it was right or wrong, and we sought to only satisfy our own needs.  We had no regard for God or His ways.  Then there came along One who was willing to argue for our freedom (Christ actually died for our freedom), and we were therefore set free.  We were able to run from the place of our bondage.  We had to then move out of the slavery mindset and move into a life of freedom. 

(As a sidebar comment:  For many people, becoming a Christian appears to them as a place of bondage instead.  They think that's when life becomes less fun and more restrained.  I have to differ because I see that my life is waaaaaay more free now that I'm not a slave to sin.  I still sin, frequently in fact, but I have freedom in Christ and can live my life according to His ways and His calling. I'm not run by the sinful nature but by the life that I have in Christ.)

So, back in the desert we find that we've escaped the slavery of Egypt and we're now headed toward the Promised Land that the Lord has set aside for us.  The only thing is that we have to actually enter the Promised Land.  We, like the Israelites, cannot just hang out on the other side of the river until we feel like obeying the Lord.  When He called us out of slavery He didn't intend for us to then just wander around.  He intended for us to move into the place of our rest--the Promised Land--so that we could put down roots, could plant seeds, could claim the territory we've been given.

The question is, have we--those who've accepted Christ--not only left the bondage of slavery and darkness, but have we also entered into the Promised Land?  The Lord is showing me that there are huge numbers of Christians in our midst that are still wandering around in the desert.  They live lives full of fear, uncertainty, frustration, and other destructive things.  The Lord is not present in their lives and giving them victory in their circumstances yet because they have not crossed the Jordan River (the point of no return) to enter the Land the Lord has given them. They remain in the desert because they're not willing to "trust in the Lord with all your heart..."  They live tentative lives unsure of their faith.  They do not live a life completely surrendered to Him and His calling upon them.  Therefore they're dry, fearful, and missing out on what the Lord has in store for them. 

So, if this applies to you, I urge you to cross the Jordan.  Go to Him and tell Him that you've decided to follow Him wherever He leads you.  Yes, it may be scary, it may lead you to foreign lands (!), it may lead you to harder things, it may lead you to some tough decisions.  But, please know that the place it will for sure lead you to is The Promised Land.  And that land, which we can attest to, is a land full of His presence, His closeness, His grace, and His goodness.  It doesn't mean that it's easy (the Israelites still had work to do in the Promised Land) but it does mean that it will be where He's promised victory and Himself.  Hands down, that's where I wanna be.  How 'bout you?

Thanks for reading...
Blessings, kim