04/03 Reading - Thoughts & Comments

3-Apr Joshua 7-8 1 Thess. 1-2 Psalms 11-15 Proverbs 3

Josh 7:10-12 (NIV) 10 The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

The Israelites were defeated at the little town called AI.  This was their second conquest, after an amazing victory at Jericho where the walls were pushed down by God Himself.  But this little town of AI which only had 12,000 men, women and children beat Joshua's attacking forces.  God revealed to Joshua that the entire nation of Israel was suffering from one individual's sin in the camp. God promised that He would not be with them any longer if they didn't find the sin and remove it.

Life changes in the land of promise.  Rules change in Canaan.  What is permissible in the wilderness is not permissible in the land flowing with milk and honey.  Not only does the food change from manna to roasted grain, but the rules change from personal hidden sins allowed, to personal hidden sins revealed and stripped away.

There are three dimensions in the Israelite story of Canaan. 1. Deliverance from Egypt, 2. Wilderness and preparation, and 3. Entrance into Canaan (the land of promise).  

There are three dimensions in the tabernacle of Moses which model the same:  1.  Outer court (salvation from Egypt), 2. Inner court where priests serve God(wilderness), 3. Holy of Holies, where God lives and where inheritance is secured.

In the inner court of the tabernacle, the priests could serve God, work for Him, and keep the tabernacle items in order (the bread, the oil, the wine, the incense).  While he is serving God, he can be thinking of other things, or could actually have some hidden sin in his heart which has not been dealt with.  He is wearing all the clothing, has gone through the ceremonial cleansing, and is serving God in the inner court.  But there is a veil between him and God, and that separation actually keeps him alive.  

When the high priest entered the holy of holies once per year, he had to have a complete make over.  He could not wear his normal priest outfit.  He had to cleanse his mind, his heart, put on a high priest's garment that literally represented Jesus Christ.  He put on a mitre's cap which symbolized a complete new way of thinking. Every part of his fleshly body was covered except the face and hands.  This new garment would keep him alive as he passed into the holy of holies and brought blood of the old covenant for the forgiveness of sins of the people.  He was the perfect representation of Jesus Christ, who would bring his own blood boldly before the throne of grace, as a final offering for the sins of mankind.  In this holy of holies, the land of promise, there is no room for hidden sin, allegiance with the devil, false gods, or any other unclean act or habit.  

The land of promise is the place that God wants you to inherit.  When you cross over into this land, the manna ceases and you must eat the food from this new land.  You must fully obey the Lord in this new land.  There will be no room for covert sin and the illicit, false, secret lifestyle of adam.  That secret will short circuit all of the power of God which is yours to take the land of promise and rid it from the giants.

Know and understand that complete obedience is required in the third dimension, the land of promise.  We learn obedience in the wilderness, but we must walk it out when the land of promise is given by God.  COMPASS GUIDE will help train you in obedience and preparation for the land that God is bringing you to.  Most will never enter the land of their promise because of disobedience, laziness, or lack of leadership.  But for you, your land of promise is near. You are being trained for it, and when you are brought to the promise of God - your opportunity for complete obedience and supernatural power will be given.  The goal is to inherit ALL THE LAND that God has put in your heart to secure.  And it's all part of the kingdom plan!      

Tomorrow's Reading:
4-Apr Joshua 9-10 1 Thess. 3-4 Psalms 16-20 Proverbs 4