“And He said unto him (Abram), ‘I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.'” Genesis 15:7
Dear Ones:
There is often great power in a picture, power to learn truth, and to appropriate the blessing of the truth. The initial “picture” of God’s dealings with Abram dealt to a great extent with a “promised land,” or rather, a land where the promises of God are realized in a very remarkable, and concrete manner. God reveals Himself to Abram in Mesopotamia, a great distance from Canaan, the land of promise. Abram’s call, and the response that God desires from him, is based on two things. The first is the revelation of God Himself to the heart and mind of Abram. We do not have a clear picture of how God did this, but we do know, that the result was so moving, and life-changing, that Abram became convinced that he should leave his home in Ur of the Chaldees, to embark on a life of obedience to the God in a distant land. The second thing which was this basis for Abram’s obedient faith, was “the word of the Lord.” In Genesis 12, we find that, “…the Lord had SAID to Abram, ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred.'” (v.1) Not only was there the conviction in Abram’s heart that it was God who truly was revealing Himself to him, but also, that this eternal God was speaking very clearly to him, requiring from him a response of faith and obedience. The “picture” becomes increasingly clear with regard to how God deals with man, possessing a land promised, but ultimately, Christ.
After Abraham’s descendants went down to Egypt, there to remain for four hundred years, there came a day, a time, when God would again intervene in a remarkable way, in the life of an individual, Moses. That intervention would change the course of history, and bring Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites, closer to the realization of God’s promise of enabling them to possess the land of promise. After being delivered from Egypt, and forty years wandering in the desert because of unbelief, the people again were brought face to face with the realization of the promise. But, how were the to enter and conquer? Also, how were they to remain in the land?
The man Joshua, son of Nun, before Moses’ death, was designated to be Israel’s leader, and commander, to guide Israel in the conquering of Canaan. Almost immediately, we discover in this “picture” that this endeavor met with spiritual resistance, which translated in actual battle in the physical realm. Jericho, and the consequent cities and peoples in the land, would be only conquered by the intervention of God. Only a life of devotion to God, in obedience to Him according to His word, would assure the victory. The promise of victory and possession are clearly set before the nation, but only in response to the true worship of the Only true God, will His working in and through the people, be truly theirs.
Many years after Israel conquered Canaan, she would herself be conquered, and carried off by her enemies into captivity, as they forsook the true worship of God, turning to other gods. God gave them over to their enemies, as they no longer would know His blessing of victory. However, there would come a day and time when, after seventy years, God would intervene to again bring them back into the land, to possess it. HIS PROMISE HAD NOT CHANGED OR BEEN REVOKED. God would again work through a man, this time Cyrus, to open that door and opportunity. His methods in dealing with him, and Israel, were very clear. God would speak, giving to them, not only the vision of Himself, and a clear understanding that it was the Lord speaking, but He gave them specific promises of His provision, and power.
Today, it is by the same power and provision of God that the believer conquers, and possesses Christ by faith. The command of God is to possess Canaan, Christ.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to live by Your certain promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad