The Promised Land

You must carefully follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase, may enter and take possession of the land The Lord swore to your fathers. Remember that The Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you to know was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so you might learn that man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of The Lord, your clothing did not wear out, and your feet did not swell these 40 years. Keep in mind that The Lord has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. So keep the commands of The Lord your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him. For The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams of water, springs, and deep water sources, flowing in both valleys and hills, a land of wheat, barley, vines, figs, and pomegranates; a land of honey and olive oil, a land where you will eat food without shortage, where you will lack for nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you will mine copper. When you eat and are full, you will praise The Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Deuteronomy 8:1-10

What a difference! The desert sand is traded for a lucious field, manna is traded for olives, grapes, bread, figs and the tent is traded for a real house. There is an abundance of water, precious metals.

It is interesting that God gave the Israelites manna to eat in the desert so that they would learn that 'man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' This is the exact verse Jesus quoted to Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness. 

Is God keeping you on a diet of manna to teach you something? I know He has taught me that I need not worry what I will eat or drink for He provides all I need. I only have to ask and it comes. At the same time my tastes are very simple but I admit I enjoy my coffee and He provides that as well. Yesterday I had run out if coffee and I asked The Lord for more and He sent it, not cheap nasty stuff, good stuff. I could have gone and bought it myself but He sent it. Why? Because I have learned something. He delights to care for me, as I delight in Him, He delights in me.

The land God provided was good indeed. Just one problem, others were living there and the Israelites had to take possession. In the experience God has for me I must take possession, this requires faith, strategy, determination and no compromise. Amen! I cannot sit and expect to inhabit without first displacing. To do so I must by disciplined, focused and faithful. What are you taking possession of? Complaining is not a weapon!


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