Musing – You Accepted Christ! Now the Journey.

Hebraic Musing – You Accepted Christ!  Now the Journey.

Is there a parallel between (a) the 40 year journey of God’s chosen people leaving Egypt to go to the Promised Land and (b) our journey after accepting Christ?   Did the Israelites have 42 encampments for a reason?

Numbers 33 delineates the 42 encampments but we focus on the destination.  Why did God have to take them through those stages?  What is our Heavenly Father trying to teach us as we journey?  And are we responsible to pass our learnings on to generations to follow?   “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Ps 78:4

What is the "destination?"  What is "home?"   Believers in Yeshua should believe themselves to be "children of Abraham".  And possession of the Land of Israel has always been the inheritance God desired to give His chosen people?  The New Jerusalem is the home of the coming kingdom.

Key point – We are a people prone to focus on the destination.  Isn't it true that God could take us there in a moment?  But that is not His will.  He takes each of us through battles, successes and failures.  These are our encampments, our experiences.  There is no other way.  And it is all ultimately for His glory.  

Let’s look at some of the steps in the Israelites’ journey.  Can you identify similarities to your journey? 

Starts with a step of faith for a major change – “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.’” Gen. 12:1  (Made Him LORD!)

He identifies Himself as the one who called you out – "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." Gen. 15:7    (Called a (Christian”)

He tells us His Master Plan – “And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.'" Ex. 6:8   (Heaven bound)

He tells us why – “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Mt.6:10  (Serving Him)

He makes seven enemies known – “Lord your God brings you into the land … and drives out before you many nations — the Hittites (fear), Girgashites (traditions of man), Amorites (pride), Canaanites (hopelessness), Perizzites (dishonesty), Hivites (occults & addictions) and Jebusites (rebellion), seven nations larger and stronger than you…” Deut. 7:1   Did you notice who drives them out?  (Daily battles we face)

He reveals the importance of driving out the enemies when we are in the “Promised Land” – “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.  And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.” Num. 33:55-56   (Consequences for not driving out the enemies; so conquer our fleshly nature)

God leads his children – “So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.”  Ex 40:38  (How does He lead you?)

How can we be led? – “because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”  Rom. 8:14-15  (“Receive the Holy Spirit”)

And our loving Father God gave us an example to follow – “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”  Matt. 4:1  (WWJD)

Points to ponder

Is the biggest battle in life between you and the old you?

How many of these battles has the Lord taken us through so far?

♫ “As I journey through the land, singing as I go,  Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,….” ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      July 17, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from Ardelle Brody’s “Commentaries - Mattot/Massei”  July 11, 2018

Lyrics: ♫ As I journey through the land, singing as I go, Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within; But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win.
Refrain:  Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face, There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice, Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice. ♫