“After the death of Moses
the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead.
Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every
place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend
from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to
their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that
you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day
and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9
The
journey to the Promised Land has historical significance, biographical
significance, geographical significance and theological significance. This
story really matters!
Egypt
is an illustration of the sinful life, the unregenerate life, the unconverted
life where we are held captive by the bonds of sin and shame. You were born in
Egypt but you cannot afford to die there. The only way out of Egypt was for God
to send a deliverer who was greater than the Pharaoh. That deliverer was Moses,
the one who God referred to as “the greatest prophet”.
In
your spiritual Egypt you are a prisoner to sin and held against your will by
guilt, shame and evil desires. Your only hope of escaping Egypt is through
faith in Jesus, the “second Moses” sent by God to set His people free from sin
and death.
Outside
Egypt the wilderness awaits!
The
wilderness was the 250 miles of desert and barren land that separated Egypt
from Canaan. In the wilderness you weren’t in Egypt but you weren’t in the
Promised Land either.
Spiritually
speaking, the wilderness represents the carnal Christian life. You have been
brought out of Egypt but Egypt has not been taken out of you. God has placed
the Holy Spirit in your life but you have not yet displaced the selfish sinful
nature.
Moses
led God’s people OUT of Egypt to lead them INTO Canaan!
A
future in Canaan was their dream and God’s desire for His people. It was to be
a place of faithfulness, fruitfulness, and freedom. But before they enjoyed
their peace in Canaan they had to defeat the Canaanites and destroy all their
idols. Only when their victory was total and complete would they know the rest
God called them to enjoy.
Canaan,
in the spiritual analogy, represents the Spirit-Filled life. In Wesleyan terms
it is called sanctification and leads to holy living. John Wesley referred to
this Spirit-filled state as “perfect love”. As in Canaan, there must be a
consecration, a cleansing of all idols and a surrender of all that stands in
opposition to God’s will. Once the consecration is complete the Spirit of God
can come in with His full presence and power to take possession of that life.
Like
the journey from Egypt to Canaan spiritual growth is a journey, a progression,
a process that begins in Egypt (salvation) and leads through the wilderness
(carnal Christianity) and then into Canaan (Spirit-filled life).
Where
are you on your spiritual journey?
Where
should you be?
What
is your plan to get there?
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