When God commanded the Israelites to "Go in and take possession of the land," it was a multifaceted directive that involved physical conquest, spiritual testing, fulfillment of divine promises, and the establishment of a holy community under God’s sovereignty. This command was central to the identity and history of Israel as God’s chosen people.
[00:00:00] Let us pray, pray together on our knees
[00:00:07] Let us pray, pray together on our knees
[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun
[00:00:21] Oh Lord, never see all the knees
[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock
[00:00:30] The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International
[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's word
[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast
[00:00:44] And now, here's Elgin
[00:00:46] Good things are given to those who are right with God
[00:00:50] But the mouth of the sinful hides trouble
[00:00:53] Those who are right with God are remembered with honor
[00:00:57] But the name of the sinful will waste away
[00:01:01] The wise in heart will receive teaching
[00:01:05] But a fast-talking fool will become nothing
[00:01:09] Proverbs 10 verses 6 through 8
[00:01:13] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you to another edition of Words of Inspiration
[00:01:20] And today we're going to go back to the Old Testament
[00:01:25] And speak on the topic of Go In and Possess the Land
[00:01:31] Our scriptural inspiration comes from Deuteronomy 1 verse 8
[00:01:39] Which reads, See, I have set the land before you
[00:01:44] Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers
[00:01:50] To Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob
[00:01:55] To give them and their offspring after them
[00:01:59] Do we take the promises of God seriously?
[00:02:03] As we look at what is going on with the Israelites doing this chapter
[00:02:08] God has just told them to leave Monorab, turn and take your journey
[00:02:14] And our scripture is his assurance of the reward that awaits their obedience
[00:02:21] In verse 22 of chapter 1, Moses sent 12 leaders to go survey the land
[00:02:28] And bring report of what they found
[00:02:31] I want you to be sure to understand that meant they made it to Canaan
[00:02:37] So they knew where it was
[00:02:40] But ultimately their unbelief caused another 38 years of wandering
[00:02:46] Numbers 13 verse 30 tells us
[00:02:50] But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said
[00:02:54] Let us go up at once and occupy it
[00:02:57] For we are well able to overcome it
[00:03:01] Caleb and Joshua took God at his word
[00:03:05] And it didn't matter that there were giants, beasts and other nations that would have to be conquered
[00:03:11] God promised it to them and that was enough
[00:03:15] Are the promises of God enough for you?
[00:03:19] The process of taking possession was a test of Israel's faith and obedience
[00:03:27] The Israelites faced numerous challenges including formidable enemies and the temptation to adapt foreign customs and deities
[00:03:37] Their success depended on their reliance on God and adherence to his commands
[00:03:44] This journey tested and ultimately strengthened their collective identity as God's chosen people
[00:03:51] The word process is where so many of us have trouble
[00:03:56] We want a solution or breakthrough in our timing and not God's timing
[00:04:02] The process is not to keep you from anything
[00:04:05] It is to give you enough time to grow into the person you need to be in order for God to give you what you're asking for
[00:04:13] That being said, when you have received all that you need to take possession
[00:04:19] You have to have faith and trust in God to do so
[00:04:25] The children of Israel spent a year at Monorab being prepared and still fell to believe in God's promise
[00:04:33] And none of them, Joshua and Caleb made it into the Promised Land
[00:04:40] Taking possession was also a divine mandate that provided the Israelites with both the authority and the obligation to occupy the land
[00:04:50] It involved conquering and settling the area which required driving out the existing Canaanite nations
[00:04:58] This aspect of the command is often challenging to reconcile with modern sensibilities about justice and peace
[00:05:06] But in the biblical context it was seen as a necessary part of establishing Israel as a nation under God's rule and protection
[00:05:17] Brothers and sisters, when God commanded the Israelites to go in and take possession of the land
[00:05:24] It was a multifaceted directive that involved physical conquest, spiritual testing, fulfillment of divine promises
[00:05:34] And the establishment of a holy community under God's sovereignty
[00:05:38] This command was central to the identity and history of Israel as God's chosen people
[00:05:46] What land are you supposed to be possessing?
[00:05:50] I thank you for joining me today and I look forward to our discussion on tomorrow
[00:05:56] Until then, God bless
[00:06:21] Write us at Harvest International, Post Office Box 6690 Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:06:29] Again, that's Harvest International, Post Office Box 6690 Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:06:38] Come in home, come in home, never meet