Promise Land – It Is Finished

Av 5777 (2017)

promises Av is such a great month.. full of promise… even though on the Hebrew calendar this month is considered to be a low point….. a month of sorrow. When studying the Hebrew months, we are to look for the redemptive side of things and pull out the treasure… pull out God’s original plans and purposes for each month.

It was originally meant to be the month that the Israelites entered into the Promise Land but on the 9th of Av, ten of the spies came back with an evil report.. a report full of unbelief. They came back and gave the people a mixed report(Numbers 13:25-14:10). They told them that yes it was true that it was a good land…. flowing with milk and honey…. BUT there was no way that they could take the land because the giants were not only bigger than them but too big even for God. There was a zero chance of success! That report struck fear into the hearts of the people and caused an entire generation to miss out on entering into the promises of God and they had to in the wilderness for 40 years until they died there!

That story makes me think of Acts 13:36 that David had served his generation well. It says he served God’s purposes in his generation. The ten spies didn’t serve their generation well.. they didn’t serve God’s purposes in their generation. They caused their generation, through their mixed words of unbelief, to miss out on the purposes of God.

I want to be one who serves my generation well. I want the words of my mouth to cause faith to arise in the hearts of those around me… to release life and destiny to them. To encourage and help my generation reach their destinies and for the purpose of God to be manifested in their lives. I choose to speak words of life… to give a report that stirs the hearts of those around me to press into the promises of God. So that one day, like David, when it is time for me to “fall asleep” and be buried that it will be said of me that I served the purposes of God in my generation.

So even in a month viewed as a low point on the Jewish calendar, we can choose to see it as God originally intended….a month of goodness, grace and favor. A month of fulfilled destiny and promise! A month of Holy Spirit’s transforming power (the 5th Hebrew letter hey which is connected to this month) making us fruitful and productive, taking what we are not and making us into what He has called us to be… as in taking Abram from father to Abraham “father of a multitude”.

He added part of His name to Abram’s which caused him to be fruitful and productive. Likewise, He added Himself to us, being made one with us… we are now IN CHRIST and CHRIST is in us….and we are transformed in newness… with His Nature… bearing good fruit.

The name Av literally means “father.” Av derives from the root, which means, “to will” or “to desire.” This is a month for us to walk in the Father’s will for us. It is a month to hear and then speak forth what you have heard from the Father… just like Caleb and Joshua. They had another spirit… they wholeheartedly followed after God. They were “filled” with following after God… there wasn’t any room in them for anything else. They had no plan B… they had no mixed reports. They heard God’s promises and then saw through eyes of faith that they were well able to take possession of His promises.

Caleb is one of my favorites in the Bible. He is always so optimistic and full of undaunted faith…. wholehearted and unwavering! Verse 30 in chapter 13 says that he silenced the people and told them “we are well able to overcome”… in the Hebrew he said we are “yakol yakol”. He repeated the word, which means able, to have power, to prevail, to overcome! Repetition of a word shows intensity. He was in effect saying, “come on boys!! We’ve got this!! We can do it… we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might!”

Even when he is 80 and finally ready to enter the promise land with the 2nd generation of Israelites, he asks for the biggest mountain which was inhabited by the fiercest of the enemies to possess! His faith only got stronger during the 40 years of waiting. I’m sure he probably spent the 40 years serving this 2nd generation well. Stirring their hearts with courage and faith so that they would be able to walk in the purposes of God.

In chapter 14 the people had caved and given in to fear because the ten had spread an evil report after Caleb had spoken… that word dibbah means to whisper, to defame or slander.. from a root word meaning to move slowly, to glide, to cause to speak. Comparable to a word that means to walk slow or leisurely. These men did more than just “give” an evil report to the congregation…. they did more that just give their fearful opinion of the matter. These 10 men moved slowly through the camp from one person to the next whispering and slandering the promise of God. Telling the people that “this land… the land God has given us is not safe. It devours, it consumes its inhabitants and it is full of “giants of the giants.” And we saw ourselves as but grasshoppers and therefore they see us like that also!”

Chapter 14 begins with saying they raised a loud cry (in Hebrew they set, or established their voices). Even after hearing the encouragement of Caleb they made a choice to set their voices to speak contrary to what God had promised. Then it says they grumbled against Moses. The Hebrew word for grumble or murmur is “lun” which is to lodge, or to abide. Grumbling, murmuring, complaining was abiding in them instead of the Word of God. John 15:7 tells us that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we can ask whatever we desire and it will be done for us. Their grumbling pitted them against Moses and Aaron… it actually says “over” Moses and Aaron. Grumbling not only pits you against leadership but causes you to think you are over or above them.. which is pride.

This caused them to say two things

“we wish we had died in Egypt or in this wilderness”
“God’s purpose was to bring us into a land where we would be prey for the enemy. It is good that we return to Egypt. Let’s make… let’s establish or set… a captain, a leader and return to Egypt.”

Wow!! They didn’t just react with fear to the possibility of the Promise Land being hard to conquer…. they spoke out against the purpose of God and accused God of having an evil purpose for them!

Joshua was another one who was full of faith and courage. After he and Caleb tore their clothes in response to the Israelite’s words against God, Joshua tried again to encourage these rebellious people. He assured them that it was a very good land. In fact he uses the word very twice… a very, very, good land. An exceedingly, great land!! He goes on to say that the Lord’s desire is to bring us into and give us a land flowing (gushing or overflowing) with milk and honey. Overflowing and gushing with ALL GOOD THINGS! Overflowing and gushing with prosperity and abundance. He encourages them not to rebel against God and also not to fear the people of the promise land who will be our prey because the Lord is not with them and they have no defense.

The Israelites responded by wanting to stone Joshua and Caleb.

God will have a people, even if He has to raise up a second generation to receive and walk out what the first generation refused.

This month be determined to be one who speaks forth a good report… a God report. Be one who chooses to see with eyes of faith… wholehearted in following after God… in being led by His Spirit into His exceedingly great promises. Be a strong leader of faith, encouraging others to step out into God’s purposes for their life. Serve your generation well – Acts 13:36

~ Robin

SaveSave

Following in the wrong footsteps….

In our last post (Tammuz 5776 (2016) we learned that Reuben took his eyes off the prize (Phil 3:14). The sad thing is his descendants also followed in his footsteps… the tribe of Reuben also lost their inheritance. Wrong vision can cost you your inheritance.

inheritance

As they were about to enter into the Promise land… the tribe of Reuben chose not to cross over. They stayed on the east side of the Jordan. They made a choice not to move towards their inheritance. After 40 years in the wilderness, Israel was getting close to the Promise Land. But they had to cross through Amorite territory in order to get there

They were attacked by two Amorite warlords named Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-35).

The Amorites were most likely the largest of the 7 enemy nations in Canaan. They were large and powerful and controlled much of the Promise Land. Their center of power was Cheshbon which means “reasoning”. The Amorites were a warlike tribe and their name means to “say or speak” from a root word meaning to speak against or boast of self…. it includes all evil speaking, boasting, slander, boasting, murmuring, complaining, grumbling, blaming God, etc. This translates as “a talker and a slayer.”

This enemy uses his words to reason with you and cause you to doubt what God has promised you or to settle for something less based on natural reasoning…. which is exactly what the tribes of Reuben, Gad and 1/2 the tribe of Manasseh did.

King Sihon refused to allow the Israelites to pass through their land. Sihon means tempestuous and also means warrior. He gathered all his people together and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. Jahaz is from a root meaning to stomp. It was here Sihon and his men fully intended to stomp out the Israelites but instead, the Israelites defeated them with the edge of a sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok. Arnon comes from a root word meaning a ringing cry, or joy. Jabbok comes from a root meaning luxuriant or abundant… to pour forth.

Like Sihon, we have a violent, raging enemy that opposes us, desiring to stomp us out. He attempts to target our thoughts and reason with us…..”Has God really said?”

Just like the Israelites defeated their enemy with the edge of the sword, so can we. The word edge in Hebrew is mouth. Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. By using our mouths to wield the sword against this enemy we will defeat him and take possession of territory that he has illegally stolen from us. Not listening to his evil words but declaring the promises of God as yes and amen in Christ. We will regain our joy and abundance.

Then Og, king of Bashan, went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei (meaning might or strength). Deuteronomy 3:11 describes King Og of Bashan (meaning fruitful) as ‘the last of the remnant of the Rephaim’ and notes that his iron bed measured 13.5 ft by 6 ft. Most likely, Og is not a personal name but a title given to the Canaanite king meaning man of valor. God told Moses not to fear Og because He has delivered him into their hands. Israel fought Og and conquered their land. No matter how big or strong the enemy appears to be he is a defeated foe… stripped of all his power (Col 2:15). Declare your victory over him and take back your fruitfulness and strength.

The Amorite territory was never part of the Promise Land. Israel had told the Amorites that they did not want to possess their land and asked permission to cross over. But Reuben looked around and said “We’ll take this for our land” They chose the territory of Sihon and Og (Num 32:33) over the Promise Land God had chosen for them.

Because of this, they had continual trouble:

They were attacked by their pagan neighbors
They were drawn into the idolatry of their neighbors
One of the first tribes to be taken into captivity

Why did the tribe of Reuben settle for a land that was not the Promise Land?

“The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock” Numbers 32:1

They reasoned based on their natural vision, forsaking the vision God had for them. The land of Gilead is lush and fertile; they saw that and thought, Why should we go any further? They saw something…. it looked good, and they were willing to stop short of what God had promised to them in order to have it. What they saw was beautiful and bountiful…..however, what they saw was not the Blessing that God had for them.

In this decision, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh divided the nation. They separated themselves from the Blessing of the land of Canaan. As a result they were farther from the tabernacle and much closer to the influence of the pagan nations that surrounded them.

God has promises for us that He desires we step into. But to make this shift will require that we be willing to lay aside all natural reasoning… stop looking at things in the natural and step into faith….. like the children of Israel to go to a new place where we’ve never gone before.

What has God promised you?…. health, healing, prosperity, etc? Don’t settle for anything less! In a time of transitioning not everyone will be willing to move forward with you. Be willing to leave behind the familiar to cling to God’s promises even if it’s unfamiliar territory for you.

~ Robin

Av – 5776 (2016)

We’re already almost halfway through the month of Av….. it’s been a busy month for us in the Smit family. We’re at the height of our summer farming season and life for us just feels non-stop, go, go, go. I’m not complaining though… God has been so good to us and our fruit harvests get better and better each year.

I’ve also taken on teaching 4 Bible studies per week… one at church, one at my home, and 2 on an app called oovoo. I love studying and teaching but it does leave me with very little time during the week for anything else.

However, I wanted to take a moment this morning and write about the month of Av because it really is such a great month.. full of promise… even though on the Hebrew calendar this month is considered to be a low point….. a month of sorrow. When studying the Hebrew months, we are to look for the redemptive side of things and pull out the treasure... pull out God’s original plans and purposes for each month.

Av was originally meant to be the month that the Israelites entered into the Promise Land BUT on the 9th of Av, ten of the spies came back with an evil report.. a report full of unbelief. They came back and gave the people a mixed report (Numbers 13:25-14:10). They told the people that yes it was true that it was a good land…. a land flowing with milk and honey…. BUT there was no way that they could take the land because the giants were not only bigger than them BUT even too big even for God. They had a zero chance of success!

That report struck fear into the hearts of the people and caused an entire generation to miss out on entering into the promises of God and they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until they died there! That story makes me think of Acts 13:36. It says he served God’s purposes in his generation. David had served his generation well. The ten spies didn’t serve their generation well.. they didn’t serve God’s purposes in their generation. Instead, they caused their generation, through their mixed words of unbelief, to miss out on the purposes of God.

I want to be one who serves my generation well. I want the words of my mouth to cause faith to arise in the hearts of those around me… to release life and destiny to them. To encourage and help my generation reach their destinies. And for the purpose of God to be manifested in their lives. I choose to speak life words… to give a report that stirs the hearts of those around me to press into the promises of God. So that one day, like David, when it is time to “fall asleep” and be buried that it will be said of me that I served the purposes of God in my generation.

So even in a month viewed as a low point on the Jewish calendar, we can choose to see it as God originally intended….a month of goodness, grace, and favor. A month of fulfilled destiny and promise! A month of Holy Spirit’s transforming power (the 5th Hebrew letter hey which is connected to this month) making us fruitful and productive, taking what we are not and making us into what He has called us to be… as in taking Abram from father to Abraham “father of a multitude.”

The name Av literally means “father.” Av derives from the root, which means, “to will” or “to desire.” This is a month for us to walk in the Father’s will for us. It is a month to hear and then speak forth what you have heard from the Father… just like Caleb and Joshua. They had another spirit… they wholeheartedly followed after God. They were “filled” with following after, or following behind God… there wasn’t any room in them for anything else. They had no plan B… they had no mixed reports. They heard God’s promises and then saw through eyes of faith that they were well able to take possession of His promises.

promises

Caleb is one of my favorites in the Bible. He is always so optimistic and full of undaunted faith…. wholehearted and unwavering! Verse 30 in chapter 13 says that he silenced the people and told them we are well able to overcome… in the Hebrew he said we are “yakol yakol”. He repeated the word, which means able, to have power, to prevail, to overcome! Repetition of a word shows intensity. He was in effect saying, “come on boys!! We’ve got this!! We can do it… we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might!”

In chapter 14 the people caved and given in to fear because the ten had spread an evil report. Chapter 14 begins with saying they raised a loud cry (in Hebrew they “set” or established their voices). Even after hearing the encouragement of Caleb they made a choice to set their voices to speak contrary to what God had promised. ALL because they listened to a group of fearful doubters.

Then it says they grumbled against Moses. The Hebrew word for grumble or murmur is lun which is to lodge, or to abide. Grumbling, murmuring, complaining was abiding in them instead of the Word of God.

John 15:7 tells us that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we can ask whatever we desire and it will be done for us.

Their grumbling pitted them against Moses and Aaron… it actually says “over” Moses and Aaron. Grumbling not only pits you against leadership but causes you to think you are over or above them… pride had set in.

This caused them to say three things:

“We wish we had died in Egypt or in this wilderness”
“God’s purpose was to bring us into a land where we would be prey for the enemy. It is good that we return to Egypt.”
“Let’s make… let’s establish or set… a captain, a leader and return to Egypt.”

Wow!! They didn’t just react with fear to the possibility of the Promise Land being hard to conquer…. they spoke out against the purpose of God and accused God of having an evil purpose for them!

It says in verse 36 that the 10 spies had incited rebellion against the Lord with their bad report. The word for bad report is “dibbah.” It means to whisper, to defame or slander. It’s from a root word meaning to move slowly, to glide over. Comparable to a word that means to walk slow or leisurely. These men did more than just give an evil report to the congregation…. they did more than just give their fearful opinion of the matter.

These 10 men moved slowly through the camp from one person to the next whispering and slandering the promise of God. Telling the people that this land… the land God has “given them” is not safe. It devours and consumes it’s inhabitants. It is full of “giants of the giants” and we saw ourselves as but grasshoppers and therefore they must see us like that also!

Caleb, when he is 80 and finally ready to enter the Promise Land with the 2nd generation of Israelites, asks for the biggest mountain which was inhabited by the fiercest of the enemies to possess! His faith only got stronger during the 40 years of waiting. I’m sure he probably spent the 40 years serving this 2nd generation well. Stirring their hearts with courage and faith so that they would be able to walk in the purposes of God.

Joshua was another one who was full of faith and courage. After he and Caleb tore their clothes in response to the Israelite’s words against God, he tried again to encourage these rebellious people. He assured them that it was a very good land. In fact, he uses the word very twice… a very, very, good land. An exceedingly, great land!!

He goes on to say that the Lord’s desire is to bring us into and give us a land flowing (gushing or overflowing) with milk and honey. Overflowing and gushing with all good things. Overflowing and gushing with prosperity and abundance. He encourages them not to rebel against God and also not to fear the people of the Promise Land – “who will be our prey because the Lord is not with them and they have no defense.” The Israelites responded by wanting to stone Joshua and Caleb.

Regardless of the Israelite’s response and the fact that they were not persuaded and moved by Joshua and Caleb’s words, Caleb and Joshua had served their generation well and were allowed to serve the next generation well and enter the Promise Land with them. God will have a people, even if He has to raise up a second generation to receive and walk out what the first generation refused.

~ Robin