5. THE LAND OF PROMISE

FREEDOM IS A JOURNEY

Israel was promised a land of rest; not the rest of inactivity, but rest from the toil and harsh taskmasters of slavery. This was to be the rest of productive lives lived under the rule of heaven. They would still have to work hard, but their work would now be fruitful and blessed. And their lives would also be defined by regular physical rest—unheard of in the ancient world.

Only people who are sure that their needs are met can rest, like the sheep in Psalm 23. The land the Israelites were entering promised to flow with milk and honey—both staples and luxuries. And significantly it would be watered from heaven, rather than from their own labours, as had been the case in Egypt. (You can read more about this in GOD'S PROMISE OF PROVISION.) Their new lives were to be characterised by sacred rhythms: work and rest; labour and fruitfulness; reflection and celebration. And right at its heart would be the presence of God.
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But first the Israelites had to take the land—it wasn’t just empty, ready and waiting.

​To do that they needed…

• To continue to trust in the Provider. They needed to continue to remember what the Lord had already done for them, and look through that filter at the challenges ahead. As Paul wrote, hundreds of years later, ‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful’ [Hebrews 10:23].

 

• To keep their focus on the Lord. The Ark, which signified the powerful presence of God, always travelled with them, and went before them in battle.

 

• To listen to Divine Strategy. Taking a city by walking round it in silence for seven days, then shouting, wouldn’t be found in military strategy handbooks! However, we know from the story of the fall of Jericho that an apparently non-sensical procedure had amazing results. But, importantly, they were not to assume that the same method was be used on the next city.

 

• To obey the Lord. The bottom line was ‘No obedience, No promised land’.

 

• To be committed to helping their fellow countrymen win—and keep—the territory allotted to them. God’s heart was to live among a people occupying the inheritance He had given them, not just with individuals.

LEARNING FROM ISRAEL

​What can we learn from these stories in our pursuit of rest?

1. There is a land of fruitfulness and blessing for us; a land of provision with God at the heart. We need to read Scripture, taking seriously its many promises, for these are our inheritance:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.
[2 Corinthians 2:20]

​In addition, we can learn from other Christians who have gained significant ground. We need to ‘explore’ our 'promised land' and get gripped by a vision of it, developing our faith in the One who has paid the ultimate price to give it to us. 

​2. Then, we need to take on board the lessons of Israel’s conquest and by faith and patience inherit the promises [Hebrews 6:12].      

​THIS WEEK’S GRACE RHYTHM:

Get very quiet inside, then turn your heart towards the Lord. Wait until you feel the light pressure of his Presence, then listen...

NEXT WEEK: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MAN OF PEACE AND REST
The one foundation for success...

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[Photo credits: Simon Berger (mountain range); Priscilla du Preez (bible in bag);
​James Lee (2 birds) @ Unsplash, with thanks]