[Feature Story] Let's Enter into Canaan, the Promised Land Flowing with Milk and Honey
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January 29, 2012 |
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The territory of the Canaanites extended westward from the Jordan River as recorded in Genesis 10:19. It was the land of blessing God had promised to give Israelites. It spiritually symbolizes the heavenly kingdom we have hope for.
Israelites escaped from Egypt and conquered the land of Canaan by relying on the God-given promise. The process is likened to our spiritual warfare in Christian life. In particular, it seems very similar to the history of Manmin that has achieved the providence of God at this end time.
1. The Beginning of Conquering the Land of Canaan
God chose Israelites and made them a model for accomplishing the providence of human cultivation. Their history and the ways to receive blessing and reach the heavenly kingdom are recorded and included in detail in the Old Testament.
Even before Jacob, the forefather of Israel was born, God promised to give the blessed land of Canaan to the Israelites. But the promise was not fulfilled automatically. Only when they had earnest longing and showed the deeds of faith could it become realized.
The history of conquering the land of Canaan is recorded in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. We can feel the unchanging heart of God and His earnest heart for His children's sanctification and holiness through their history. They marched in the wilderness for 40 years, crossed the Jordan, and destroyed the city of Jericho. When we take a closer look at all their steps to the Canaan Land, we can compare them with the courses of our journey in Christian life from salvation to beautiful Heaven.
Through the faith of the Israelites, we can check where our faith is and what kind of faith we have yet to show in order to receive answers and blessings.
2. Israel as the Model for Human Cultivation
God guided Abram who lived in Ur of the Chaldeans to the Canaan saying to him, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you" as written in Genesis 12:1-5. God changed his name from Abram to Abraham when he was 99 and promised that He would make him the father of a multitude of nations. Then, He gave Abraham all the land of Canaan. (Genesis 17:1-8)
Abraham, the Father of Faith, was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Isaac had his two sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first son but neglected the spiritual blessing the firstborn should receive. Esau sold Jacob the birthright in exchange for lentil stew. It's a proof that he didn't believe in God who controls everything.
On the other hand, Jacob longed for spiritual blessing although he took the blessing of the firstborn in a crafty way. So God refined him and accomplished His providence through him. Jacob finally demolished his self-righteousness after 20-year-lasting trials and changed into a man God wanted. In the end, he received the new name, Israel and now his descendants formed the nation of Israel.
3. God called Moses for the Exodus
Moses was destined to die according to the order of the Pharaoh as soon as he was born. But his parents hid him for three months. When they could hide him no longer, they put him in a wicker basket and set it on the Nile. As the plan of God, Moses was spotted by the daughter of Pharaoh. She made him her son and chose one of Hebrew women to nurse him. It was his birthmother she had chosen to nurse him, so he could learn about his people, the Israelites and their faith towards God.
But he fell into troubles seeing his people's suffering. In the meantime, he happened to see an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. He ended up killing the Egyptian. Moses fled and settled in Midian. He, there, pastured the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. During the life there, his self-righteousness was totally destroyed and he changed into the vessel God could use.
One day, Moses saw a blazing fire from the midst of a bush on the Mount Sinai. At the moment he approached the bush, God called Moses. Moses replied, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (Exodus chapter 3)
The bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. God showed him this to let him realize the existence of the spiritual world. He told Moses to remove his sandals, which spiritually means we have to get rid of filthy sins. Just as he removed his dirty sandals he was to become sanctified.
God called Moses as a leader of Israelites not when he was the prince of Egypt but when he was a lowly and humble man shepherd. This is because only a person who breaks himself and obeys can accomplish the providence of God.
Likewise, God has sent His men from generation to generation to save His people. Even in this end time when sins are rampant, God wants to lead His people out of the world like the Exodus from Egypt and into the land flowing with milk and honey, which symbolizes the kingdom of Heaven, through choosing those who completely obey Him and letting them testify to the living God.
* Why is the Land of Canaan called 'The Land Flowing with Milk and Honey'?
Unlike the wilderness of Egypt, it had an abundance of water and fertile land. The flocks could produce milk and the land bloomed with flowers so that people could get honey. With the mild climate, there were olives, grapes, pomegranates, figs, and rye. The area also had many cattle and abundant seafood.
* Why did the Israelites dwell in the Egypt?
When Jacob's family went to Egypt, the number of his family members was only seventy. If they had increased in number among so many tribal countries, they would have been attacked by those many countries. God chose Egypt to protect Israel until Israel formed a nation. God arranged for Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, to go to Egypt and to save Egypt from the seven-year famine that prevailed in the Middle East, and the Pharaoh accepted Joseph's family members who were also suffering from the famine into Egypt. This was how the Israelites came to stay in Egypt and multiply their numbers.
* What was the situation like in the Egypt when Moses was born?
Joseph died and as time passed the Pharaoh at that time also died. Another Pharaoh arose in Egypt who did not know about Joseph. Since the Israelites were increasing in numbers, this Pharaoh was afraid and tried to stop the Israelites from multiplying into a large nation. He ordered that all new-born Hebrew boys be put to death. He made the Israelites his slaves and persecuted them. Moses was born in this gloomy time.
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