Scripture:
Numbers 33:50-53 ESV
[50] And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, [51] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, [52] then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. [53] And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.
[55] But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.
Observation:
GOD was giving Moses clear instructions. HIS people were sitting at the edge of the land that HE had promised them. However, it was not yet in their possession. The instructions were to DRIVE OUT ALL the inhabitants. Destroy ALL their carved images of the gods they worshiped and the people that worshiped them had no place among GOD’s chosen people they were to be driven out. GOD had given the land to the Israelites. However, they had to do their part and believe what GOD had spoken to their forefathers Abraham Isaac, and Jacob. At the very end of this chapter, there is an important warning…the reason it was so important to drive them ALL out. The people who were currently in the land did not believe the same way GOD’s people did. They made their gods by their own hands and thought this idle worship was right. They would mislead and misguide GOD’s people and therefore become a thorn in the side of the Israelites.
Application:
Let’s take a look at our lives have we left anything hiding in the corners…in the shadows? We need to drive out ALL our sins. Don’t get me wrong I know it’s a process and it doesn’t happen overnight. However, when we leave just a little bit of who we used to be and try to bring that into the new man that was created when we asked Jesus to be our LORD it just leaves us broken. We can’t stop halfway. When I was studying this morning I went over chapter 32 as well and the first few verses had the same message. Don’t stop short. It seems the tribe of Ruben and Gad saw some land that they thought was fitting for them. The grass was green and it had beautiful plains as far as the eye could see. It was not what GOD had promised but in their eyes, it was good enough. So they stopped short. Listen I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want ALL of what GOD has promised me. I don’t want to stop short. HE is a good GOD and HIS plans are better than the green pastures of Moab. Milk and honey the and of plenty. HE doesn’t want us halfway there HE wants us all in. When the Holy Spirit brings a sin to our mind that we are still practicing we need to do something about it. I am not preaching that we half to be perfict. Because that day will come, but only when Jesus comes back, however what I am saying is if we are doing something and we know it is sin, or the Holy Spirit points it out to our heart that it is sin we need to drive it out of our lives without hesatation. GOD’s plan is for milk, honey and the land of plenty, lets not stop at the world, money and people who think funny.
Prayer:
Father, we do not want to stop short. Your plan is way better then ours. Your desire is that we lack nothing. As we look over the fence and see the green grass and the beautiful medows. Let us not stop there. Let us press on to win the race that you have set before us. You have called us to an upward call for your glory. We pray that your holy spirit point out tgat halfway mark that we find ourself stuck, at our desire is for your glory. The prayer that we seem to speak but pay little attention to “let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” we want your will father your plan your milk and honey. We ask only that you lead us into the land you promised. Through your grace and mercy. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.