TO RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISE, YOU MUST ACT UPON HIS WORD
SCRIPTURE:
“On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group, give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group, a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.” (NUMBER 33:50—56)
OBSERVATION:
The Lord on Moab’s plains told Moses to speak to the Israelites about the promised land. It is interesting that even though the land was promised to them, they still had things to do themselves. God has provided the land as he promised. But the Israelites have to work to own all that God has promised.
God’s promises are not as many see them as free. God’s promise requires me to be obedient to what it requires me to do to receive and enjoy it. With every promise of God, there is a condition. Unless I meet that criterion, the promise is still there, but I will not be able to enjoy or have any blessings from it.
Moses gave the people of Israel what God wanted them to do to enjoy the promised land. The first thing God told them to do once they crossed from Jordan into Canaan was;
- Drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you.
- Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols,
- Demolish all their high places.
- Take possession of the land.
- Settle in it,
For I have given you the land to possess. These are the actions the Israelites needed to do once they crossed over to Canaan. The people are responsible for doing all that God commanded them to do. Some consequences will happen if they fail to act on God’s word.
But if you do not drive out the land’s inhabitants, those YOU ALLOW TO REMAIN will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.”
I wish God would do everything for me. That would be a fantastic blessing. However, God wants me to participate in his promise. I have a part to play in receiving God’s promises. I must have faith, obey, and act upon God’s word.
APPLICATION:
I am repeatedly reminded that God’s promise is only received and experienced when I believe in him, obey what he says, and act upon it. I often am misled so often to think that God will do it all for me. He does; he promised all for me. But as someone pointed out, we can lead a horse to the water with all its abundance, but if it doesn’t drink it, it will die of thirst. God’s abundant blessings surround me, but I must desire them and be responsible by believing, obeying, and acting upon God’s word.
PRAYER:
Jesus, I ask that you teach me how to fear you in believing, obeying, and acting upon your word. I ask that you lead me to a lifestyle of obedience. Please help me to keep my eyes on you and to humble and act upon your leadership. Teach me to be sensitive to your word and grow in knowing you daily. Amen!
