It is clear in Scripture that God has a plan for each one of us in this short life we live. God’s plan for Moses was to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and into their Promised Land. Moses succeeded in getting them to the entry point which was the Jordan River. It is there that he finally lost it when the children of Israel began to murmur and demand water in the desert for the second time. He enquired of God and was instructed to speak to the rock and water would come forth. Moses was angry and wanted the Israelites to see a furious display of rage as their need for water was met. Instead of speaking to the rock, as God commanded, Moses took his rod and struck the rod in anger. This act of defiance stirred up God’s wrath because Moses was portraying to Israel that God is an angry God who loves to strike things in rage when demands are made. This is not His nature. Because of Moses’ disobedience, God wouldn’t allow him to cross the Jordan and set foot in the Promised Land. He was only able to see it from afar on a mountain. Thus, Moses’ assistant, Joshua, took the place of Moses and began leading Israel after his death. Joshua successfully led them through the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. Here are some of the spiritual keys Joshua used which we can use to help us enter into the promised land of destiny God has for each one of us.
DEAL WITH THE FLESH (Joshua 5:4-5)
“And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them; all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.”
The previous generation couldn’t enter into the Promised Land because they were circumcised in flesh only; their hearts were not. Because the younger generation had not been circumcised, they had not met the requirement of God to receive the benefits of His covenants. This reveals the principle that says you cannot inherit the promises of God based on the price paid by the previous generation. You must walk in your obedience to God individually.
“Sin” is a very unpopular word in our postmodern, humanistic, and secularized culture. Many churches have let their staff know that this word will not be used from their pulpits. They do not want to offend anyone. There is an old saying, “The milder you make the label, the more potent you make the poison”. Each generation needs to realize that the only anecdote for the poison of sin is the blood of Jesus. It needs to be applied to our sins so they are removed, and we can be free of all weights that hold us back. (Hebrews 12:1)
REALIZE THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS (Joshua 5:10)
“Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.”
Both Passover and Jericho represent the first fruits. Passover was instituted after the last plague of Egypt resulted in the death of every firstborn, uncircumcised male in the land. Those who had the blood of the lamb applied to the doorpost of their homes were spared as the death angel “passed over” them. Only the Israelites did this. Jericho was the first city Israel encountered upon entering the Promised Land. God told them that this city was to be entirely devoted to God and it was to be destroyed. None of the people, livestock, or plunder was to be kept enriching Israel. They were all to be destroyed as a sacrifice to Him. This reveals the principle of keeping God first in our lives. It is also a warning that the temporal things of earth can prove to be a hindrance in reaching our promised land.
ENTERING YOUR PROMISED LAND REQUIRES SUSTAINED FAITH. (Joshua 5:11-12)
“And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land, and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.”
In the wilderness, all the basic needs of the Israelites were met every day. In the promised land it is a day-by-day faith walk. The land of promise has lands, houses, grapes, meat, rain, and more. But it also has giants, locusts, wild animals, and enemies. The laws of sowing and reaping are still present, but they manifest differently. It requires discernment and hearing God’s voice. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
THERE WILL BE A WALL TO BREAK THROUGH (Joshua 6:1-2))
“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua; “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.”
Moses faced the Red Sea, Joseph faced his brothers, Daniel faced the lion’s den and David faced Goliath. Being blessed and entering our promised land includes facing a strong man before enjoying the plunder. Matthew 12:29 tells us “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”
What do you do when you hit a wall and you are in your promised land? God told Joshua that He wanted him to see the promise on the other side of Jericho’s wall. The fact was that the Israelites had no experience, no weapons training, and no precedent in tearing down walls. They had to embrace God’s truth in Joshua 6:2- “See! I have given Jericho into your hand.” They had to put God’s truth over the natural facts.
There are many things that can keep us from our inheritance. Let’s learn some valuable lessons from Joshua about how to deal with some of them.
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