There were no AAA maps to guide them. No travel guide with pictures of what the land was like God had for the Israelites. Their only GPS (God Provided Signals) was a cloud by day and tower of fire by night.
However, it was not an easy journey for Moses and the Israelites from being enslaved in Egypt for 430 years, to escape through the Red Sea, and finally reaching the promised land.
They sent out 12 men, one from each tribe who were all leaders among their own tribe to check out the land and to bring back a report on what God’s Promised Land for them was like. He said;
“See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many. How is the land in which they live, is it good or bad? And how are the cities in which they live, are they like open camps or with fortifications? How is the land, is it fat or lean? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land.”
They had been wandering in the desert for 40 years. I imagine the children stopped asking; “Are we there yet?” after the first year. But now they are ready to send in the spies and see what this Promised Land was all about. Would it truly be, as promised by God to Moses in Exodus 3;
“A land flowing with milk and honey.”
Imagine the excitement of the nation as they waited for the spies to return. At first glance, things were looking good. Two of the men had a pole on their shoulders and hanging from it was a heavy cluster of large grapes and they were also carrying pomegranates and figs.
However, the verbal report quickly deflated the crowd. The people living in the land were strong and their cities were fortified and very large. Plus, the descendants of Anak were there which presented a large problem because these men were not only strong but very tall. So tall that their basketball rims had to be set at 12 feet just to make the game interesting…but I digress.
Suddenly what was a joyous crowd filled with anticipation became a grumbling mob overcome with fear and disappointment. Everyone cried out going back to their tents crying. Some were saying to Moses and Aaron they wished they had died in Egypt or even in the wilderness. And some of them said;
“Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”
Suddenly Joshua and Caleb spoke great words of truth to the dejected whinners. They reminded them that their God, Yahweh, led them to this place and has promised them the land. God will provide what He had promised, and they needed to believe in the promise of God instead of seeing the giants of this reality.
I believe the same is true for you and for me. God has directed your steps so that we have communication with one another. I can tell you that getting over the hump is hard work, but it can be done by the power of the Holy Spirit and the help of a community of other believers helping one another.
However, do you stand with Joshua and Caleb and believe that God wants you free from sexual brokenness and wants to bring you to His Promised Land for you? Certainly, that will be the case once we are in heaven. But you do not have to wait for heaven before you begin to experience the freedom that God has for us.
He has not left us to flounder around being enslaved again to our lusts and living in the bondage of sexual sin. He has placed the Holy Spirit inside of our bodies. Yes, that is right, God the Holy Spirit dwells inside of your body. And just as God would have given the Promised Land to the Israelites it was their lack of faith that held them back. They looked at their circumstances and gave in to their fear.
Perhaps that is what you are doing as well. Many people begin receiving my daily 180 Fresh emails of encouragement and there is an initial excitement that maybe this is the answer. Some even join our 180 Online Support Teams. And when deliverance from years of sexual sin does not happen quickly, they lose hope and go back into their desert.
There is a place in the Christian life that I think is somewhat of a promised land. A place where we are no longer overcome by our flesh and keep going back to our own vomit. A time when you have been walking in the Spirit daily and He is beginning to bear His fruit of self-control. A place where you stop looking at people as objects to use for sexual sin and begin to see everyone as created in the image of God and therefore deserve honor and respect instead of being treated like a piece of meat for your consumption.
These are the changes that God wants to make in your life. However, for this transformation to happen, it will take the time of consistently walking filled with the Spirit, living in a community of other believers who can be of help to you on a daily basis, and surrendering your body and life to God daily so that you are living to do His will.
The problem with so many Christians is they are riding on the motorcycle of their own life and have God sitting in the sidecar. We have our plans, our goals, and our desires that receive most of our attention while God might show up on Sunday to bless us.
Those who did not believe God would give to them the Promised Land failed this test of faith and died in the desert. Many of you might be filled with doubts based on your circumstances of failure after failure because of your living in isolation.
God has a Promised Land for us not only in heaven when we die, but here on earth as we place our faith in Jesus and the Spirit and live in a community where other men are helping one another. If you believe you need help just contact me and help will be on the way.