God spoke to the Israelites through Moses in Deuteronomy 1: 8, behold, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and to their descendants after them. This was the rendition of Moses’ recollection to the Israelites after they had sojourned in the wilderness for forty years.
God’s promise which was directed at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants was fulfilled after many years of expectation. However, many did not live to see the promise fulfilled for a number of reasons including biological age, rebellion, murmuring, and unbelief. Though God’s promise appeared to be urgent when it was spoken, it took forty years to be realized so many gave up on the possibility of taking possession. Why did Israel give up on God?
Preparing for God’s promise
Many gave up because they were not prepared for the fulfillment of God’s promise. God’s promise demands preparation spiritually and physically and not by indolence. In Deuteronomy 1: 9-12 Moses prepared the Israelites to take possession of the land which God had long promised.
First, Moses acknowledged his weakness and said in Deuteronomy 1: 12, how can I bear alone the weight and burden of you and your strife? Moses was physically, emotionally and psychologically spent though spiritually strong and alert. He honestly acknowledged his weaknesses so he asked the Israelites to nominate new leaders to assume the mantle of leadership.
Second, Moses set out the criteria or qualification of leadership. Moses meant that in real life it is not everyone who qualifies as a leader and in particular spiritual and divine matters. Moses said in verse 13 choose wise, understanding, and experienced men, according to your tribes, and I will appoint them heads. Today, we have rather traded and replaced these qualities for inheritance, relationships, money, greed, selfishness, sycophancy, and woke agenda among others.
Third, Moses eschewed indolence and naivety in preparing for God’s promises. Moses took steps towards taking possession by sending spies to survey the land. He needed to know the enemies’ strength in order to inform his strategy with God’s guidance. Battles are fought and won with adequate knowledge of the opponent’s strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. Jesus knew the strength of his enemies when he said in Matthew 10:16; Luke 10:3 I send you out as sheep amidst wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Paul knew his enemy when he said in 2 Corinthians 11:14 no wonder for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Preparation must be based on knowledge.
Fourth, Moses prepared the grounds for justice delivery as the stabilizing force in society. He said in Deuteronomy 1: 16 I charged your judges at that time, heard the cases between your brethren, and judged righteously between a man and his brother or alien that is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s… To Moses, justice is at the heart of a peaceful society and life. When justice, law and order breaks down based on corruption, favour, politics, etc. anarchy assumes justice.
Fifth, Moses opened a channel for consultation and learning. He said in the tail end of Deuteronomy 1: 16.… and the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it. Moses retained responsibility even after delegating other tasks for take over and possession. He also acknowledged wisdom and experience in God’s business and so availed himself for God’s service in times of crises. In times of crises and confusion, we must have a channel for godly consultation guided by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:1-3 say we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good edification. For even Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Paul’s message was not for only spiritual challenges but for all shortfalls in human weaknesses. How available are we to God in times of need to help others?
Israel’s excuses against taking possession
The report from the spies regarding the land to be possessed said it was good. Deuteronomy 1: 37-38 says and they took in their hands some of the fruits of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, it is a good land which the Lord our God gives us. Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. The mission for the spies was to investigate the totality of the land. However, the spies missed the point and rather focused on the occupants.
The excuses of the spies as set out in Deuteronomy 1: 39-40 says they murmured in their tents and said,(1) because the Lord hated us he has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us; (2) whither are we going up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, the people are greater and taller than we; (3) the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; (4) and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there. They focused on the negative rather than on the positive.
The Anakim were a race of giants as descendants from Anak at Southern Canaan near Hebron. The spies focused on sight rather than faith in God. 2 Corinthians 5: 7 says for we walk by faith, not by sight. John 20: 29 says blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Without faith in God, we cannot possess what God has ordained for us. We lose sight of God’s blessings if we shift focus to things which appear negative. We must assess our strengths based on what God says, not how we feel. How are we preparing to take possession of what God has for us?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we have failed to prepare to receive your promises. We have distorted scripture and turned away from your way of Christian leadership. We have cherished human considerations rather than divine approval, knowledge and wisdom. We have now availed ourselves to be guided by scripture so your church would stand. Make us wise as serpents and humble as doves as we engage with our adversaries. Clothe us with your Holy Spirit in battle in your holy name we pray, Amen!!
