The Israelites were camped on the
banks of the Jordan river, ready to go and possess their Promised
Land. But before they could enter into the land, Moses was giving
them his last and final speech. Their 40 year journey had finally
come to an end.
The Israelites took 40 years to
complete a journey that should have taken 11 days. First of all it
was due to their disobedience that it took so long and second of
all, God used the time in preparing them into the people that they
should become. If they had possessed the land within 11 days, they
would have entered the Promised Land with a slave mentality and
they would have quite quickly turned into the same wicked people
already possessing the land. We clearly saw that on their journey,
how many times they fell for temptations and how many times they
tested the Lord. God knew their hearts and therefore He had to
prepare them for what was to come. He had to mould them into the
people that He wanted them to be. He wanted them to represent His
character and He wanted them to be a shining light to other nations
and by being that draw other nations to Him as well.
And today God is the same. He will
sometimes let us walk on pathways that we don't understand;
wilderness walkways that cause discomfort and pain. And sometimes
He will lead us on ways that do not make sense, but at the end of
the day He is getting us ready for the role He wants us to play.
Sometimes our journey will be tough and sometimes we will cry and
wonder where all this is leading us, but if we place our lives in
God's hands, He will lead us where He wants us to be. He will lead
us towards our Promised Land where we can serve Him and be a
shining light for other people to see. God wants us to draw our
brothers and sisters towards Him as well, and therefore He wants us
to be on a level where we can be the magnet drawing them in.
God wasn't just keeping the
Israelites alive in the wilderness. He was looking after them and
creating His character in them. And the same goes for you. Don't
just survive, but work alongside God to fashion His character in
you. Grow into the mature Christian God wants you to be and enter
confidently into your Promised Land, knowing that you are a
representation of Him and a living part of Him here on earth. We
are here to grow His kingdom on earth. Do a good job of it and make
Him proud. Don't be like the Israelites that failed quite soon
after entering Canaan, but look past the temptations of this life
unto the treasures awaiting us in His kingdom.
Dear Father, thank you that we have
a Promised Land to look forward to. Thank you that You are
preparing us for that. Help us to work alongside with You and to be
the best representative that You want us to be. In Jesus Name.
Amen