POSITION YOURSELF IN THE PROMISED LAND

POSITION YOURSELF IN THE PROMISED LAND.
Numbers 32:1-5 Joshua 22:10-34 Genesis 19:17, 26
Genesis 13:1-18 1 Kings 17:1-16 Genesis 26:1-5, 12-14
Genesis 12:1-3 Act 2:1-4, 4:24-31 Genesis 13:1-18
Does it really matter where you are, does the church you attend every Sunday matter, does your job etc also play a part in experiencing the blessing of the Lord fully? A little background reading on the verses on top would help give more insight of the things that are said in the article.
We are just coming out of the year that was proclaimed the year of new beginnings and we are a going into a year where some believe that God will birth in us something new, others say it is a year of seven fold increase and still others a year of great success. Whatever the declaration is for the year but there are still the same conditions that will prompt God to birth something new in us? Surely we have learnt from our biology that in order for a seed to germinate the conditions in that environment must be right, if one element is not right then the germination will not take place. The blessing of the Lord also works on the same principles; it will not be activated unless the right environment is also attained. The right environment of the blessing of the Lord is called the Promised Land. You as a person need to position yourself in the Promised Land in order to tap in that blessing which requires prompt obedience.
The call of Abram
Now the Lord said to Abram, ’get out of your country from your family and from your father’s house to the land I will show you.’ Genesis 12; 1
Abram was literally called from his country to another country of which he knew nothing about. The scriptures continues to say that in this land I will bless you and make your descendants as many as the sands of the sea shore or the stars. God was about to start a new thing in the world. He wanted to raise a people that would love and revere Him, a people that He could call His own and His oracles will be given to them. The very fact that He asked Abram to move to a different place showed that the present place did not fit the criteria showing that His blessing could not be activated in this place with Abram’s family, partly maybe as a result of the family’s huge involvement in idol worship. Does God call us to a specific location in the world in order to bless us? Yes! He called Abram to a specific geographical place, why not us now? I have found that one of the frequently asked questions when getting acquainted with someone in the Christian circles when it is a foreigner is, ‘are you going back home?’ quite a considerable number of people say, ’I believe God has called me here.’ Now how they heard from God is not really important but the very fact that they believe they have positioned themselves where God wants them to be.
One of my pastors rightly said, ’your blessing is tied up in a geographical area; you must be where God wants you to be.’ Now God does not only call us to a geographical place but I believe that He wants us to be positioned rightly whether in our worship, our church, our job, in our mediation of the word, in our prayer life, in our service and the list goes on and on. This now might get you concerned and wondering whether you would get all those right in order for your blessing to be activated. Now knowing where you are supposed to be is just the start and the journey towards that position is also another concern. You need to know where you are supposed to be or else you never take a step into a right direction to begin with. God has a way of talking to His children some of which might just be a strong desire or hunger for something (I am not going explore the lesson of how to listen from God or of how to know God’s voice now). I want you to now notice something from Abraham though, everyone knows that He never got to the Promised Land (take possession of the Land) in fact his descendants never got there for a few hundreds of years but whether the man and his seed were blessed or not can’t be disputed. The blessing of God was evident in their lives where ever they went. God’s major concern is your obedience, as long as you are taking your steps towards the direction of that Promise the blessing is also activated in fact it can act as if you had already attained your position. When the four lepers decided to make their move towards the enemy’s camp the Lord caused the enemy to hear the sounds of a great army coming their way and fled (2 kings 7:3-8). Therefore a statement shading light on the whole picture then would be, ‘your blessing is tied up in your obedience of God’s command.’ This is also reflected in scriptures such as Deuteronomy 7:12-15.
THE LANDS OF GILEAD AND JAZER
God promised the children of Israel a land flowing with milk and honey. This was a land He would take care of, He promised to pour rain in due season and make that land extremely fertile. This was the land of Canaan. Now a time came when the children of Israel settled in the lands before crossing the Jordan, in east of the Jordan, the lands of Gilead and Jazer (Gilead and Jazer are the titles in this article that will be given to any place before the Promised Land, Promised land being the place where God wants you to be whether spiritually or physically). They had not taken possession of the promise of God and hence there was a river to cross and battles to fight. God had brought them thus far, He lead them in many previous battles and gave them victories. He had been training them for the day when they would take possession of the land, He gave them a foretaste of owning a land. At this time they were in the will of God, they had been lead by Him to settle in these lands but it was temporary, it was a stage on this journey into the Promised Land.
In an earlier statement I said, ’knowing the Promised Land is just the start, journeying towards and taking possession of it are the other important tasks.’ Now the children of Israel had made their journey but still there remained another important task ‘taking possession of it.’ At the time some of the children of Israel lifted up their eyes and had a quick preview of the Promised Land. The land didn’t appear to be as fertile, beautiful or attractive as the land they were in. The land looked like it needed more work to be done on it in order to get the same results they got in the present land. This concerned some of them because they were farmers and they had huge herd of livestock, ‘how can we keep our cattle well fed and grow crops to have a great yield in a land like that.’ the question on their minds. They gave it much thought and using their wisdom came to the conclusion that they should settle in the land before crossing the Jordan. Don’t we do that, settle before attaining what God has really purposed for our lives? The two and half tribes came to Moses and said,
‘Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Hesbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, the country which the Lord defeated before the Congregation of Israel, is a land of livestock, and your servants have livestock. If we have found favour in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.’ Numbers 32:3-5
Their reasoning managed to persuade Moses and the elders into curving in though they did not inquire of the Lord but a few concerns were actually raised. Now before we go any further I want to examine the reason of not wanting to take possession of the Promised Land:
The Livestock
These two and half tribes of Israel did not want to take possession of the land because they had huge herds of livestock. Where did these come from? There was a time when children of Israel complained of just having manna instead of the meat and fish they eat back in Egypt. They wouldn’t have complained if they had these huge herds of livestock. I wouldn’t be far off to assume that most of these were acquired from the lands they had just taken possession of. Surely they do not want to take possession of the Promised Land because they think their livestock is better off in these lands. It is an advantageous thing to have Livestock in many ways, I mean you have food in full supply and you have cattle to work your lands and even have something to offer God if the need so arises. But when the good things we have hinder as from possessing God’s Promised Land it creates a huge problem. The huge herds of livestock crowded the people’ thoughts and reasoning and sure caused them to error. They had forgotten the role of God in helping them conquer the lands before the Jordan and therefore giving them those huge herds of livestock, if He had done it before and increased them like that, will He now fail to do the same once they had crossed over the Jordan. The other school of thought is also magnificent, if the children of Israel were able to keep such huge herds of livestock or even just a few through the period they walked in the wilderness when their clothes didn’t wear out, their legs didn’t swell up and they were led by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. They had seen water flow from a rock and the Lord sustained them and their livestock in the dry and thirst lands, will this God fail to sustain the livestock now if they happen to cross over? He did it in the desert place surely He should be able to do the same in the Promised Land. The wrong they did now might seem so obvious because they left out God from their reasoning and if they did include Him they definitely put a limit on His ability to sustain them and the livestock. Don’t you think in one way or another we too do the same thing when we are unwilling to give up that job or career, an extra hour for our prayer or meditation of the word, extra effort in our service in the church, when we turn down extra responsibility that could build up the kingdom of God and when we fail to cut out relationships that definitely pull us away from God. We also in the same error forget the power of our God, when we fail to see that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all the things we ask or even imagine whether it is better job or career and even give you better relationship, a spouse that fears Him and will build you up and draw you near Him instead of destroying and dragging you away from Him. The livestock in itself is not a bad thing but as it held some of the children of Israel from taking possession of the Promised Land so surely other things that are not bad can prevent you from reaching where God has purposed for you to be. Paul reflects on this truth twice in his letter to the Corinthians, ‘everything is permissible for you but not everything is beneficial, all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any’ 1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23. We are in a spiritual warfare and the weapons we have are for the sole purpose of exalting Christ in our lives but now and again we fail to do just that when that habit because people can’t convince us otherwise still holds us from attaining that Promised land. We as soldiers in this warfare are meant to pull down everything good or bad in our life that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ or hinders us from getting closer and closer to Him.
Before Moses was persuaded in the very fact of letting some of the tribes settle in these lands he raised a concern that is worth looking at,
‘Shall your country men go to war while you sit here? Why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land the Lord has given them?’ Numbers 32:6-7
This is the second time the children of Israel were at the edge of the Promised Land. The first time they were disheartened by the report the ten spies brought back about the people who occupied the land. They became rebellious and forgot that with God all things are possible; they had forgotten that He subdued Egypt with plagues and the pharaoh’s army He drowned in the red sea whilst they crossed on dry ground. They had come to this position again, they were unsure of what laid before them having crossed over the Jordan and they would have been looking for reason to tarry longer before settling in this land. The first rebellion cost them forty unnecessary years in the wilderness where that rebellious generation fell and now were in danger of repeating this error.
Problems of settling in your Gilead and Jazer
Moses understood the power of unity, though there were twelve tribes but Israel was one nation, though they were many parts but they were one body. The body can’t fully function unless all the parts have one goal or vision. The decision of the two and half tribes not to cross over would affect the whole community. Soldiers will tell you that the most important thing in a war is keeping the formation and not to break it up, if the formation is broken the whole unit is comprised and you endanger not only your life but the lives of the whole group. Moses initial reaction to the proposal was to turn it down. It didn’t seem right, because every soldier must cross over and fight, leaving no room of doubt with every Israelite that they would conquer and subdue that land. I believe this is God’s reaction every time we are not willing to take up our spiritual stand. Today like the Israelites, we the Church are many parts but one body and that is the body of Jesus Christ. We are on one mission and that is the mission of Christ to destroy the works of the evil one and win more souls into the kingdom. This illustration of the body can’t put it any better in this sense, all the parts of the body must unite: one goal, one purpose, one vision every muscle, organ or limb must have in the battle otherwise the body becomes dysfunctional (Romans 12:4-8). Paul urges the believers in different areas of this very need because the church can only function effectively if all have positioned themselves rightly. The positioning does not start with your neighbour but with you, take your spiritual stand, stir up your gifts and your zeal and rise up your bar of commitment unto the Lord. This fire is contagious it will rub off onto your neighbour, then your cell group and the church as a whole but sadly the reverse also is true if you lower down the bar it is most likely your neighbour will compromise too. We are soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore we can’t get entangled with civilian affairs because if we stumble the whole church becomes comprised and more prune to the devils attack. The devil at these times we stumble and get enslaved with sin or lack of commitment comes in and causes division and the whole battle array is destroyed, don’t give him a foothold and keep the formation of the church. The problem with settling in Gilead and Jazer is that the whole congregation is compromised because you are not willing to fight the good fight of faith then the others also will be discouraged to fight. Look at this simple conversation with one of my sisters to emphasise the point.
Sister: Godfrey what time are we going for the prayers today?
Godfrey: well I am just coming from work, I think I will pass for today, u?
Sister: I am not going if you are not going.
When I heard her statement though totally knackered changed my mind and we went for that prayer meeting which was a blessing not only to her but to me also. I am hoping this simple example reminds you of the basic things, just you being in that prayer meeting are an encouragement to another, don’t take it lightly.
The second problem with settling in Gilead and Jazer is the very fact that is creates a ‘them and us’ attitude. When you are in one place you are defined by the same things but if you are in different places change begins. When the two and half tribes returned after helping their brothers settle in the Promised Land, the first thing they did was to build an alter. God specifically said that there should be only one place located for worship but they disobey this command as they felt their children would not be accepted as part of the congregation. This problem would not have occurred if they had decided to cross over with the rest. Spiritually this also applies since some people create alters away from God’s actual throne, that is why people attend the same service and one is blessed and for the other find it as usual, ‘never felt different, I mean just right after that worship we all burst in tongues right?’ you will never grow in your walk with God to a place where you should be comfortable to settle. You have to keep on pushing to get to know Him more. He still wants you to draw closer and closer to His throne. Therefore when you enter a meeting make sure the only constant thing about you is the very fact that you give your best. I wonder why it is always the same people who are running up and down with their service to God while others choose to be spectators and leave everything for them. We as the body of Christ need to get to the place where all serve that is when the whole body will be exalted by Christ but as it stands some are elevated while others are not, in the end they become envious. If we all decide to settle in the Promised Land or the Position where God wants us to be then we will be able to serve in our different ministries without struggle while the church is moving into higher heights.
The third problem of some settling in Gilead or Jazer is the very fact that it takes longer for the rest of congregation to settle in the Promised Land. The Children of Israel settled in the Promised Land but because they were a few people they could not fill up all the whole Land, their enemies still remained on the outskirts. They was no point of driving all of them away at one go, they had to do it little by little as the nation grew because driving them away at once meant that the wild animals would multiply and cause them problems but now leaving these people in the land proved to be a great threat as they became thorns in their sides. The children of Israel were led astray on more than one account and by this inviting the wrath of God. They were ever always under attack from the other nations. What was needed from the start was oneness of the nation and all these could have been prevented. In the church as well if people are all zealous for witnessing they will bring more into the Kingdom but if a few are zealous a few will be won over. If a lot more people are full of the Word and are fully devoted to seeking the truth, then it does not allow wolves to breed among the sheep and escape unnoticed. Only in oneness of mind is the power of the Holy Spirit made manifest.
Now when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly... Act 2:1-2
And when they heard that, they raised they raised up their voice to God in one accord and said,’......’And when they had finished praying the place where they were at was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God boldly. Act 4:24:31.
Jesus is also recorded to have prayed for the unity among believers saying let them be one as we are one, so every time people truly show the same characteristics as the God Head, the Holy Spirit is attracted to the scene and moves mightily. Therefore in order for the church to fully experience this move, everyone must be seeking for God earnestly because that is only when they will be rewarded for the efforts (Hebrews 11:6. Jeremiah 29:13).
THE PROMISED LAND IS THE BEST PLACE YOU CAN BE.
It does not only seem comfortable to settle in the lands of Gilead and Jazer but it also appears to be a better deal and looks more attractive than the Promised Land. God had promised the children of Israel the Land of Canaan and there was no mention of the lands of Gilead and Jazer before they actually got there. It was just stage on their way to the Promised Land but in the end God still allowed them to settle in those lands because they requested for it. Don’t you just love our God, He is no control freak but actually does allow you to do and get what you want. However He knows you very well, He has the best planned for you and with that He will bring you to an expected prosperous future and end (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:29). On one long quest to find out the will of God upon my life a pastor said to me, ’there is a perfect will of God and an acceptable will of God. When you are in the perfect will then it is easier to attain all the things He has planned for you but it is more difficult to do the same when you are just in an acceptable will. When you are just in an acceptable will you might even die before stepping into the plans God has got for you.’
Should I settle in the Promised Land or in the Lands of Gilead and Jazer? Which one is really the better deal? In this part of the article I will explore a few examples from the bible and showing you that the Promised Land is the best place to settle and indeed in the end to comes out as the better deal always.
Abraham and Lot Separate (Genesis 13)
As a result of both Abraham and Lot becoming too prosperous their field men started fighting as the land could not contain two blessed people. They saw it fit to separate and Abraham being the elder one gave the privilege to Lot of choosing the land first. Now we all know that people given this privilege will always choose the better one of the two options and only a few or even none would actually consider leaving the other person with the best deal. Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the plains of the Jordan were well watered and as the garden of the Lord and Egypt and without hesitation bid his farewells. Just right after Lot separated from Abraham as if the Lord wanting to reaffirm His promises comes to him and says,’ lift up your eyes and look from the place you are-northward, eastward, southward and westward for I give this land to you and your descendants forever and I will make you descendants as numerous the dust of the Earth.’ Which Land? The same land which was second best, less beautiful and less attractive just a few days ago, that is the land the Lord actually pledges to prosper Abraham. In our eyes and with our understanding we might think that job is the best for us, that girl is the best for us, that church is the best for us, that country is the best for us and the list can go on but I would like to reaffirm that where God wants you to be is the best place where you can be as a person and there is no better deal.
Lot thought had got the better deal but it turned out that just right after they separated he was taken captive and Abraham had to come to the rescue. He went back and settled in Sodom and Gomorrah and needed another intervention of Abraham intercession so that He should be saved from the destruction.
Lot and Family (Genesis 19:17, 26)
They angels that brought the destruction to the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah requested Lot and his family to escape to the mountains but they should not look back as this would result into the same destruction befalling them. The place where the Lord wanted them was in the mountains but Lot made a plea to settle for a night in one of the towns for this would prove to be comfortable for them and achievable. His plea was granted to him but as they started from that small city the next morning while the destruction was befalling the city the wife could not resist but turned back and instantly becoming a pillar of salt. I always think that had they journeyed all the way to the mountains the temptation to turn back would have been smaller as they would not hear the noise of destruction behind them. The plea that Lot made was paid for by his wife life.
Isaac (Genesis 26:1-5, 12-14)
Now there was another famine in the Land and Isaac as his father had done before was thinking on journeying to Egypt for their survival. The Lord spoke to Isaac at this time and said, ’do not go down to Egypt but dwell in the land I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you.’ Isaac obeyed and dwelt in that land. He went on to sow in the land and the scripture records that he reaped a hundred forth. How could one reap hundred forth in a dry and thirty Land? Farmers today with all their technology never yield like that even if the weather is favourable. Isaac because of obedience to God’s voice however managed to yield a hundred forth and became prosperous in his time that even kings envied him. I doubt his prosperity had he gone to Egypt would have come any close to this. Now most people think a country or an economy will be the answer to their financial problems, but that is just partly true because the economy and country where God wants you to be will prosper and elevate you the most. God can elevate you even if you were in Zimbwabwe or even during this time of credit crunch.
Elijah, the ravens and the Widow.
Elijah had just proclaimed a drought in the Land of Israel having shut the heavens and commanded the rain not to come. At this time the Lord came to him and ordered him to a specific place where he had commanded ravens to feed him and also he would drink from the brook there. Now a time had come when the brook ran dry as a result of rain not falling and the ravens stopped providing him with food. The Lord then ordered him to go a specific woman where from just a morsel of flour the Lord provided for Elijah, the Widow and her son for a season.
Now most of us find no problem obeying God the first time we hear Him speak to us. We hasten to follow His command go to the place where He wants us to be. We settle there and becoming comfortable. The problem now lands in the time of His second command. We are used to Him feeding us using the ravens we are used to Him quenching our thirst using the brook and are unwilling to go somewhere else. But lack of obedience in this case will kill us whether spiritually or physically as in Elijah’s case. You clinging on to the same way of ministering when God says move will drain you of your joy and power. When He move its time for you to move!!!
The disciples and the day of Pentecost.
The Lord commanded the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until the promise of God had come. Then they were mandated to preach the gospel to the ends of the world.
And when the day of Pentecost had fully come they were all in one accord and in one place. And suddenly... (Act 2:1-2)
The disciples were in right place physically but spiritual they also had to get to the right place. Jesus prayed for the disciples to be unified and of one mind and one accord and until this was achieved the promise was not attained. When they just positioned themselves in the right place physically and then spiritually the promise came. They received the promise and the same ones that lived in fear came out and proclaimed the gospel.
There are without doubt more examples we could talk about but the fact I hope by now has sank into our hearts, The Promised Land the Best place to be. Don’t settle for anything less than that.