 |
| Numbers 14:20-23 |
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6)
Moses succeeded in prayer as mediator between God and Israel after Israel refused to go up and possess their promised land. God did not destroy Israel to start over with Moses. However, while they walked in God’s forgiveness they did so in the desert for forty years and perished never having entered in to His Promised Land.
This is devastating; to think anyone would walk forty years, or the rest of their lives, in God’s forgiveness but never entering in to their promised land – the land of full abundance. Yet, many people are sitting in church today who have not fully entered in to what is available to them in Christ.
God said to Moses, “these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness” (Numbers 14:20). These men, women, and children experienced the miracle-working power of God in their lives and for their freedom. Yet one thing was lacking. Today it is the same; many people, young and old, believe the salvation bought for them by Jesus’ shed blood, yet still there is something missing.
God went on to say to Moses, “[they] have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice” (Numbers 14:20). These Israelites experience freedom from bondage, walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, and walked with cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. God was tangibly present with them and was guiding their every step, yet they continued to test Him. They complained against their leaders, Moses and Aaron, and they complained when things did not go exactly their way. They did not know how to live in freedom, so they complained and resisted.
The result of their continual testing was not only devastating for them, but affected their children. God said, “because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it” (Numbers 14:22, 23). These Israelites accepted freedom from their bondage in Egypt, but they never fully lent their trust to God. They never truly surrendered their will to His will. This kept them from entering to the Promised Land, the land of abundance. It also caused their children forty-years-delayed entry.
There is more to a saving relationship with Jesus than simply acknowledging belief He is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose to life again to set us free from sin and death. This is the beginning of a relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. John 3:16 says, “whoever believes [will] have eternal life.” In modern English the first statement of this paragraph holds true. However, if we pursue the original meaning of the word believe, the context of which the original hearers and readers of this word would understand, we find the more.
Just as it was not enough for the Israelites to walk out of bondage to enter the Promised Land, there was a journey to bring them through to the Promised Land. We have seen it was in their refusals to obey and the multitude of their tests and complaints which kept them from the very target God has set for them.
In the origins of the word believe is the idea of entering to a treaty or contract. It is not simply to believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins, but to now live our lives trusting in Him and obeying Him. The context of believe is to trust and obey. We don’t simply come to Jesus to be set free from sin then live our lives as we please. We have been purchased by His shed blood, “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:13, 14).
There is more to believing than calling yourself a Christian. There is a word which resounds in my spirit lately: surrender. In order to enter into a treaty, one side must surrender to the other. They lay down their arms and enter into a peace agreement. Jesus, by His shed blood, has purchased our freedom from an evil dictator bent on ruining our lives. We now have peace with God and agree to trust Him with our lives both spiritual and physical (Romans 5:1). In our treaty of peace, we surrender our will for His will and His way – we agree to live in obedience to His kingdom rule, reign, and authority. The good news is this is the life we were born to live and there is so much freedom and abundance to be found here if we simply surrender our lives, purchased by His shed blood, to do His good will.
If you feel like you have accepted Christ, but are wandering around in a desert land, instead of complaining against your leadership, fighting your own battles, and never being satisfied in this life, ask the Lord where you need to surrender your will for His today. Ask yourself if you have fully entered into treaty with Him.
There is an abundant life promised to you. It is found in the beautiful place of abiding in Christ. (John 10:10). “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6).
The Israelites who perished in the desert did not abide in faith or obedience to God or those God placed over them as servant-leaders. They took their freedom from bondage and refused to submit to their rescuer’s authority. They never truly surrendered to the One who saved them.
How about you? Have you fully surrendered Your life to the good, good Father who sent His only begotten Son for you? Jesus laid down His life for you for your abundant salvation. Have you fully entered into the freedom-contract with Him? He bought you at a great price. Won’t you enter fully into your promised land today? Do so by praying a prayer of surrender to Him promising to trust and obey no matter what comes yours way. As the hymn says, “there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”.
Trust and Obey
John H. Sammis, 1887
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.