If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey." Numbers 14:8
I know you all have heard that the Canaan land was a land that flowed with milk and honey. And this message has often been tied to the prosperity message. I believe the prosperity preachers have really made a mess of things, especially for Christians who truly seek God's heart and will for their lives. It's gotten to the point where you can't even mention blessings or increase without some christians getting uptight. But God does desire to bless you. I think I'm beginning a little bit where God's heart on this is. Notice in the numbers verse above, it says if the Lord delights in us. I've been studying the children of Israel a little and all God wanted to do was delight in them and lead them. He wanted to be their God. He wanted to provide for them. But God was dealing with people who were mules and horses. Some wanted to remain in slavery in Egypt because they were comfortable there, these are the mules. The other people were horses, they rushed ahead of God when God didn't respond quickly to them. Even Moses's brother Aaron helped the people build false idols and worship the golden calf when Moses took to long to descend from the mountain with a message from God. These people did not want to be led.
One of the most profound verses in the bible that I have ever read is this, "And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." I've seen it several times in the old testament and it always stops me in my tracks when I read it. God desires to be our God. But he can not be God to people who do not treat him as such. In fact there is a verse in romans I think that says, "Why do you call me Lord, but do not treat me as such?"
All of this is to say, that God is looking for neither the mule or the horse, but his very own sheep. Because his sheep hear his voice, but they also follow him. To these, he is the goodd Shephard. To these, he will lead to green pastures, to the promised land. If we delight the Lord, we should be a blessed people. And it's not a prosperity message, it is the gospel. It is a reflection of God's love for his people and the "end" is not selfishness and self exaltation, but the end point is to give God glory. People will be able to see God. It doesn't mean life will be problem free or that everyone will be wealthy, but we will give him glory even through misfortune, grief, and loss. That is what it means to have abundant life. That this Shephard is so good that we are obedient to him even in times of uncertainty or misfortune. That we are willing to die to ourselves for his gospel. That takes obedience.
The key to reaching the promised land is to be a delight to the Lord. Be obedient to his word as sheep are obedient to the shephard. And it doesn't mean that you are a good christian that follows the word, you have to be listening!!!!!. There are many good christian people who are following in their own way and putting God's name on it, and he isn't behind it. We bring God the most glory when we are truly led by him. See even God's sheep can be misguided but he will bring us back. But it is our duty to learn to hear from him, because he says "my sheep hear my voice AND they follow me." If you don't get anything out of this whole message, know this.....we must know what the will of the lord is and be obedient to it.
