(10) Threshold Of The Promised Land

(Numbers 13:1–2, NIV) The Lordsaid to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

1. The territory the men explored was extensive. (Num. 13:17–25)

2. After exploring the land for 40 days the men returned to the camp of Israel and gave their report. (Num. 13:26–33)

3. Throughout their wilderness journey the LORD had been preparing the Israelites for this very moment!

4. They never fulfilled God’s plan for their lives because they never fully embraced what the LORD was trying to do in their lives!

5. Three 3 most important life-lessons the LORD was trying to get the Israelites to embrace: trust, love, and obey the LORD

I. Trust The LORD

A. Trust Is Built On Knowledge

1. In order to trust someone, you must know them, or at least know about them.

2. The LORD knew that the Israelites had to know Him if they were going to trust Him.

B. The LORD Spent The Entire Time In The Wilderness Journey Teaching & Revealing Himself To The Israelites

1. Redeemer

a. In Egypt the LORD revealed Himself as their redeemer via the Passover Lamb.

b. (Exodus 6:6, NIV) ... I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

2. Healer

a. At the bitter waters of Marah the LORD revealed Himself as their healer.

b. (Exodus 15:26, NIV) ... I am the Lord, who heals you.

3. Life

Jesus revealed Himself as their life via the manna and water that flowed out of the Rock.

(Psalm 78:24, NIV) he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.

(Psalm 105:41, NIV) He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

4. Identity

The LORD made sure the Israelites understood why they defeated the Amalekites! The LORD is their identity!

(Exodus 17:15, NIV) Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.

5. Relationship

The LORD brought the Israelites to Mount Sinai to bring them into a holy covenant relationship with Himself.

(Exodus 19:6, NIV) you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

C. The LORD Did Everything He Could To Get The Israelites To Trust Him

1. However, the Israelites whom the LORD delivered out of Egypt never trusted Him enough to fulfill their destiny!

(Deuteronomy 9:23, NIV) ... he said, “Go up and take possession of the land I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. You did not trust him or obey him.

In the Bible trust and faith are synonymous. (˒aman – to be firm, faithful, and true; to stand fast, endure, believe)

2. There are 2 dynamics involved in creating and imparting Biblical faith in people, and a 3rd that He almost always uses.

a. The Word

b. The Holy Spirit

c. A person who speaks the Word in the power of the Spirit! (“faith comes from hearing the message”)

(1) The Holy Spirit is waiting for you to speak the Word in order to reveal Jesus to others!

(2) When you speak the Word, the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus and faith is created and ready to be imparted.

3. Why didn’t the Israelites trust the LORD? They didn’t take the LORD’s Word seriously!

a. (Deuteronomy 32:46–47, NIV) Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you ... They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.

b. (Matthew 13:15, NIV) For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. ...

4. Will you die in the wilderness of life without fulfilling your God-given destiny, or will you trust Jesus and go forward?

II. Love The LORD

A. A Solid Relationship With Jesus Is Based On And Motivated By His Love

1. (Deut. 7:8, NIV) But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

2. Even when the Israelites broke their relationship with the LORD (via the golden calf) the LORD expressed His great love!

a. (Exodus 34:4–7, NIV) So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. ...

3. However, the LORD didn’t try to buy the love of the Israelites through blessings and experiences!

a. Love that is a response to blessings and experiences isn’t love for the person but love for what that person will do.

b. Those who base their “love” on blessings and experiences don’t really love the LORD, they love the experience.

c. What will happen to those who follow Jesus looking for blessings and experiences when persecution comes?

B. Love Is A Choice

1. The LORD commands all those who follow Him must love Him!

a. (Mark 12:30, NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

2. How can you command someone to love you? Because love is much more than a feeling; love is a choice!

Declare: I choose to love Jesus!

3. But there is something that you can do that will deepen your love for Jesus; get to know Him better!

(Philippians 3:10, NIV) I want to know Christ ...

Paul knew that his love for Christ would grow in proportion to his knowledge of Christ.

C. Your Love For Jesus Can Be Steadfast And Strong No Matter What You Face, Because Your Love Comes From Jesus!

1. (1 John 4:8, NIV) ... God is love.

2. It’s not your love, it’s God’s love that He has put in you that flows out of you to Him and others!

a. (Romans 5:5, ESV) ... God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

III. Obey The LORD

A. The Israelites Had Continuously Been Disobedient, But The LORD Still Led Them To The Threshold Of The Promised Land

(Numbers 13:27–28, NIV) They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But ...

B. The LORD Wanted The Israelites To Fulfill Their Destiny!

(Exodus 19:5–6, NIV) Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

2. The Israelites followed the LORD but they died in the desert without fulfilling their God-given destiny.

3. It required their trust, love, and obedience! (v5 “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then ...”)

C. What Kept The 1st Generation Israelites From Fulfilling Their God-Given Destiny?

1. They didn’t trust the LORD to fulfill His promises.

2. They didn’t love the LORD through hardship; they only loved the LORD if He did what they wanted.

3. They didn’t obey the LORD when He brought them to the threshold of the Promised Land!

D. Abundant Life In Jesus Is Before Us ... Are You Ready To Receive It?

1. Trust Jesus / Love Jesus / Obey Jesus