You Have Been Here Long Enough

Deuteronomy 1:5–8 KJV 1900

5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying, 6 The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

The people of Israel are at Kadesh-Barnea in the 40th year after their deliverance from Egypt, and their leader Moses is about to expound God’s law and prepare the new generation to enter Canaan. Although Moses himself wouldn’t enter the land, he would explain to the people what they had to do to conquer the enemy, claim their promised inheritance, and live successfully in their new home to the glory of God

 Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Equipped. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1999. Print. “Be” Commentary Series.

This passage records God telling Israel they had stayed at Horeb (Sinai) long enough and it was time to move toward promise and possession.

There are seasons God ordains —

Seasons of learning,

Seasons of lingering,

Seasons of launching

A. In Seasons of Learning, God teaches us the necessary skills needed so that we can be successful on our journey.

Israel had learned at Mt. Sinai. As God handed down the Law to Moses. The law educated the people on what God expected from them.

B. In Seasons of Lingering, God allows seasons of rest and meditation. In Exodus 18:17-18

King James Version Chapter 18

Exodus 18:17-18

God knows that we are flesh and bone, we get tired, stressed and we need a break at times, and help at times

C. In Seasons of launching, before God can launch our next season we must successfully complete the Learning stage and been patient in the lingering stage. but if we have followed Gods led we will launch into our next level, next season

But now God says: You’ve been here long enough. Here’s the problem….

1. A COMFORTABLE PLACE

v6 “Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount”

Horeb was:

Place of revelation - God revealed His standards, laws and guidelines

Place of provision - God provided blueprints for the tabernacle, set up priesthood

Place of protection - Exodus 29:45 “And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.”

Exodus 16:4 “ Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you ”

Exodus 33:1–2 “ And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up … unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob… 2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:”

Here is the problem….Comfort can become captivity.

Yesterday’s blessing can become today’s barrier if you refuse to move when God speaks.

Some people are stuck in:

Old victories

Old wounds

Old routines

God never designed Horeb to be home.

2. A CLEAR PROCLAMATION

v7 “Turn you, and take your journey”

God gave:

A Command — Turn

God gave A Course — Take your journey

God gave A Calling — Go possess promise

God is not vague when it’s time to move.

When God says move, delay becomes disobedience.

Israel didn’t need… More signs, More sermons, More miracles … They needed obedience.

3. A COVENANT PROMISE

v8 “Behold, I have set the land before you”

Notice:

God didn’t say “I might give it”

God didn’t say “I’m thinking about giving it”

God said “I have set it before you”

It was:

Promised to Abraham

Passed to Isaac

Preserved through Jacob

God’s promises are prepared — but they must be possessed.

4. A COURAGEOUS POSSESSION

“Go in and possess the land”

Possession requires:

The Faith to step out

Fight to stand

Fortitude to stay

Promise land still had:

Giants

Battles

Opposition

But God never promised that it would be easy — but He did promise that He would be enough.

Conclusion

God was saying:

You’ve learned enough Here

You’ve lingered long enough Here

You’ve looked long enough.

Now it’s time to live in what I promised.

Closing Challenge

Maybe God is saying to someone:

You’ve been in fear long enough.

You’ve been in doubt long enough.

You’ve been in that same spiritual place long enough.

You’ve been Angry long enough, you’ve been bitter long enough, you’ve been were you are long enough… God is calling you to launch out

Turn.

Take your journey.

Trust My promise.

JACOB AND CHASATY