Can we not sense the excitement building in today’s reading? Israel is on the verge of entering the Promised Land! The two-week journey, which took Israel forty years, is ending! The borders are now revealed. Responsibility for distributing the land is assigned. As we might say, “It’s getting real!” I love the word “when” in the following verse.
“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: When you cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the people living there. You must destroy all their carved and molten images and demolish all their pagan shrines. (Numbers 33:51–52, NLT)
In other words, victory already belongs to Israel. Judgment is already passed upon the enemy. It’s not if Israel will conquer; it’s when.
On the other hand, the word “if” also stands out in the reading.
But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live. (Numbers 33:55, NLT)
While victory over the enemy is given, Israel’s quality of life is still their choice to make. It’s not if they can drive out the enemy; it’s if they choose to drive out all the enemy.
This is such an illustration of the Christian life. Jesus is our victory! It’s not if we have victory; we absolutely have it because Christ is victorious!
But our quality of life is our choice to make! For example, enemies like doubt, fear, and guilt are like “splinters in our eyes and thorns in our sides.” How do we overcome these enemies? With Truth! With faith and love! With encouragement from fellow believers! Our quality of life can reflect the victory we have through Jesus!
Let’s be reminded that Jesus came to give us victory and enrich our quality of life!
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (John 10:10–11, NLT)
Believers, let’s live rich and satisfying lives through the victory we have in Jesus!
Thanks for joining me in my adventure to read the Bible chronologically!
- Today’s post comes from Numbers 33-34.
- Tomorrow, I will be reading Numbers 35-36.