Promise Land

As we leave the book of Leviticus and enter into Israel’s desert wanderings, we need to stop and take one final look back at the miracles and provisions God provided them at the very edge of the Promised Land. We find a reoccurring theme throughout the bible that God purposefully allows to resurface: mankind’s wavering doubts and unbelief in the power and existence of an almighty God. It is our tendency to trust in our own abilities, forgetting entirely about God and His answered prayers and provisions in our lives. In the book of Numbers, we will watch as Israel is given a great opportunity to trust God and enter into their promised rest. But, instead of trusting and living a faith-filled life, they turn away from God, giving into their fears. Because of their unbelief, the young nation of over two million people will wander aimlessly in circles for forty years in a piece of desert barely larger than the County of San Diego.

“Unbelief” is what God wants us all to expel from our lives and “faith” is what He wants us to replace it with. He has tried over and over again to establish laws to teach us, feasts to celebrate and memorial stones to visually remind us that He is the One and Only, True and Living God still on the throne and in total control. The psalmist states in psalm 139:5-10 “You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in Hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”

Many times in my own life I have doubted in God’s existence. It does not take much to shake my faith and take my eyes off of God’s omniscience, omnipotence or omnipresence. In the gospels, God gives us many examples where men and women of faith stumble and lose their focus on God. The Apostle Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, then as he takes his eyes off Jesus, his fears and doubts take over and he begins sinking into the sea. Sometimes all it takes is a trial or some tribulation to strain my faith, but usually it’s my own unbelief that causes me to falter, stumble and fall into despair and doubt.

So how do we continue to live in a faithful way through any circumstance we might find ourselves in?  The bible is absolutely overflowing with examples of this where men and women have overcome insurmountable obstacles by putting complete trust and faith in God. Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In other words, whether or not God answers our prayers or whether or not He grants us a long, bountiful life, we are still instructed by our Master to put our complete faith and trust in Him. He promises us that there is a glorious future coming and to run the race all the way to the finish line where, as winners, we enjoy an eternity in the presence of the Father.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus is paramount to faithful and successful living. In the story of Peter it means that if we never doubt, if we never take our eyes off the Lord then we will pass safely through the storms of life into safe harbor. It means that if we trust God completely, if we put our complete faith in Him then we can enter into His promised rest. One simple way to achieve this is by spending time reading, studying and meditating on the word of God. Remember Jesus said in this world we will have tribulation but we should be of “good cheer” because He has overcome the world. Just as the nation of Israel stood at the edge of the Promised Land, we also now stand at the edge looking forward to our eternal rest in Christ. Walking out from the valley of the shadow of death and into God’s warm love and the bright light of His love and Omnipresence! Or if you prefer, you can still get lost and wander around out in the desert where you will still eventually arrive at the Promised Land. It’s just a matter of how much aggravation you want to endure.