'Appreciating God's Love'
A) From these two types of Israelites
1. coming out of Egypt and
2. those entering the Promised land
we can learn valuable lessons.
Israeli Slaves in Egypt
Deuteronomy 1:30-31 The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.'
The Israelites were all born under bondage of slavery during the time when God sent Moses to deliver them.
Many times God had to harden the heart of Pharaoh for Moses to perform more signs and wonders to strengthen their faith. They witnessed the ten plagues upon the Egyptians and they were surprised that God could made the Egyptians blessed them materially at exodus.
They witnessed their deliverance at the Red Sea and the complete annihilation of the powerful Egyptian army. God led them by the pillar of cloud during the day and the pillar of fire at night.
God provided manna from heaven as food and gave them water from the rock. He was carrying them all the time and yet, when they were tested with risks and difficulties, they continuously rebelled against God.
Deu 1:32-33 Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.
Similarly, carnal Christians today, reject Him and His word for allowing sufferings, problems and sorrows to test and strengthen their faith.
B) Wilderness for Forty Years
Deu 9:23-24 Likewise, when the Lord sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, 'Go up and possess the land which I have given you,' then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and you did not believe Him nor obey His voice. You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.
The Israelites from Egypt were faithless. Though they had seen the numerous signs and wonders, yet they were always rebellious. God did not allow them to enter the Promised land to prevent these parents from destroying the faith of their descendents.
Note Since God has given men the free will, He is faithful and will not go against their will, which has caused Him so much sorrows and hurts.
God sent the Israelites into the wilderness for forty years. He humbled them by making them to trust His provisions, healings and protections. So that He could raise up the next generation of Israelites to be strong in their faith in God, who would trust and obey Him.
Deu 8:2-3 "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way *these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart*, whether you would keep His commandments or not."
Brethren, it is not what we say, confess or claim, but the intent of our heart (will), that He judges.
C) The Bold and Fearless Israel
Deu 11:18-19 "Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
The Israelites, raised up in the wilderness might not have seen the numerous signs and wonders of their forefathers, but they still could see manna falling from heaven, water from the rock and pillars of cloud and fire.
God ensured that they were taught His words. In fact they were taught to memorize the Torah of Moses.
With the words of God in them, they were transformed from unbelief to those of having great faith in God.
Deu 8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
Power in His Word
Isa 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
The Word of God is powerful. It is spirit and it is life and is able to transform us into His image. We will then be bold and fearless when facing problems, worries and the deceptions of the evil one.
Brethren, abide in His word and you will know the truth which will set you free from fear, carnality and worldliness.
John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."
