After the Israelites spent 40 years in the Sinai desert, the Israelites finally entered the land that God had promised Abraham to have. The land was in Canaan, which is most of the modern land of the nation of Israel today. Sadly, any of the Israelite adults who came out of Egypt, excluding Joshua and Caleb, did not make it to the promised land because of their grumbling and murmuring against God. Many of them died in the desert, including Moses. Upon entering the promised land, God commanded the Israelites to drive out all the people living in the land because of their wickedness and idolatrous worship. God not only fulfilled His promise to Abraham that his descendants would have land and become a great nation, but he also intended to use the nation of Israelites to be a light to the nations. Under the leadership of Joshua, the successor of Moses, God guided the Israelites to conquer their enemies to possess the land. Psalm 105:42-45 says, "For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham. So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing. He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted. All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord!"
God never abandoned the Israelites while they were in the desert for 40 years despite their disobedience. There was not a single day that God was not with them, providing and protecting the Israelites. The story of the Israelites coming out of Egypt and going through the desert for 40 years to the promised land is a good example of God's faithfulness to His people. God was patient with the Israelites, but He never compromised His holiness. He disciplined them when they were in rebellion, but He was quick to forgive when they repented. If God is patient with the Israelites, who were not perfect people, God is definitely patient with us, too. God is faithful to fulfill what He has promised us. Forty years in the desert is like our time on this earth. After our time on this earth, we will enter the promised land in Heaven. We may grumble and complain through the hardships of this life, but God remains faithful to take care of us until we enter His very presence in Heaven.
The Israelites overcame the harsh conditions of the desert and defeated their enemies because God was taking care of them. Similarly, no matter the challenges we encounter in this lifetime, our God always cares for us. We need to keep walking in God's ways and keep on trusting Him in every challenge that we face in order to live a blessed life until we reach the promised land, Heaven.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) How did the Israelites survive the harsh conditions of the desert for 40 years? How should I live my life on this earth until I arrive in the promised land, Heaven? What lesson did God show me in today's devotion?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, I am blessed to be reminded this morning that you are faithful to take care of me. Please help me completely trust you in all my concerns and problems. Please help me overcome my doubts and fears so that I may live in your peace. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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