Perfectpeace

God promised Abraham that He would give his descendants the land of Canaan.

He affirmed this promise to Isaac and Jacob.

At the right time, He sent Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and bring them to the promised land which overflows with milk and honey, where they will enjoy the land and also enjoy relationship with Him.

In Egypt, He did astounding miracles to the point of terrifying every Egyptian, that they urged the Israelites to leave, giving them what ever gold and silver the Israelites asked.

So Isreal ransacked Egypt as they left.

This did not happen due to Israel’s wisdom, tactic or bravery. It all resulted from the miracles of the Lord.

Then came the Red sea, God open the sea and Israel crossed on dry land but when the Egyptians tried to do the same, the waters came down on them, the sea became their burial place.

As Israel continued the journey to the promised land, they needed food and water.

They cried to Moses, questioned God’s ability, murmured about their fate.

God graciously provided manna and water.

Many times in the journey, they tested God. They lost sight of the promise and also forgot the omnipotence of the God who promised to bring them to the beautiful land.

Lead by the pillar of cloud by day, pillar of fire by night, with the food and drink provided, the clothes on their back and the shoes on their feet holding on these many years, finally they were very close to the land of promise, their destination.

Moses decided to send 12 spies who brought contradictory report. 10 of them said

Numbers 13:17-18 “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

“We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we…..The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” Num 13:31-33

This greatly disturbed the people. They forgot the Lord who promised that He will bring them to the land.Their unbelief caused them to be terrified.

But the other 2 spies said

“Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”Numbers 13:30

” The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”Numbers 14:7-9

It looks Caleb and Joshua understand that it was God bringing them and giving them the land, not their own power or strength. But most of the Israelites looked at their own fighting capability or physical strength.

We know the story well, those that believed God entered the land and enjoyed it.

Our life as Christians goes parallel to the Israelites journey.

God , in His infinite mercy, saved us from eternal damnation, from kingdom of darkness, from chains of the god of this world. Set us on a journey to become like His Son.

Jesus modeled for us a life that is with out blemish.

Jesus tells us to love God and each other and even our enemy, forgive each other, be pure in heart, bless those that curse us, pray for those that persecute us, to be peacemakers, to have the fruits of the Spirit.

To summarize all above is to be like Christ.

In Ephesians 4:11-13 “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ “

Some people say ” it is impossible to be like Christ” “it is impossible to be holy” “it is impossible to be perfect” -just like the Israelites said “we are not able to go up against the people”

If you are saying being like Christ is such a high standard you can’t achieve! Think again and repent!

The Lord, who took each one of us out of the world, want to perfect us and make us grow to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Do you belive He can do this for you?

He is not asking your strength, just your trust.

Are you willing that He perfect you? Change your life so that Christ is seen in you and through you?

You have to believe He can do that.

God does not want anyone to die wandering in the wilderness.

He will do what He set out to do in your life. Don’t rely on your self but on Him who is able.

Philippians 1 :6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Shalom.