Fallen Outside the Promised Land

The book of Exodus and the first dozen or so chapters of Numbers record the time when the Israelites left their captivity and slavery in Egypt and marched towards the promised land of Canaan. Before leaving Egypt they saw first hand the awesome power of the Almighty in the plagues against Egypt. When they were leaving their servitude they were exposed to God's power and protection when they crossed the Red Sea on dry land. Along the way they were led by God by means of pillars of fire and cloud. Along the way they were given God's commandments. Along the way they saw evidence of God's displeasure with idolatry and rebellion. In the thirteenth chapter of Numbers, a dozen spies are sent into Canaan to search out the land. They returned with reports and evidence of a bountiful land, where the people of Israel could be richly blessed. Ten of the spies also returned with reports of the mighty men in the land. And in Numbers 14:1-10 Israel refuses to enter the promised land. As punishment for their rebellion against the Lord, they are caused to wander for 40 years in the wilderness until every one of them over the ave of 20, except for Joshua and Caleb, died and fell in the wilderness, outside of the promised land that they had come so close to reaching.

It is sometimes difficult for us to understand how the Israelites could have reacted that way. After all, they had been continually exposed to God's awesome power and protection. They had been shown the wrath of God against those who chose to rebel against Him. They had long known that the land had been promised to them. And yet they chose to not enter the promised land! And we look at it and marvel at their unwillingness.

Yet how often do we, and those around us, display the same attitude, and so fall outside of the promised land?

Israel knew they had been promised the land, and all they had to do was be willing to follow the Lord's instructions. Christians are likewise given such a promise. Christians have the promise of a heavenly country. (Hebrews 11:13-16) This promise, the promise of heaven and eternal life in the presence of God, is a great and precious promise. (II Peter1:4) And all we have to do is be willing to put our faith in the Lord and do the small acts required of us. So many will fall short of entering the promised land because of their unwillingness to submit obediently to the will of God.

Many balk at the idea of true repentance (Acts 3:19, 17:30): of putting the old man to death and putting on Christ. (Colossians 3:9, Galatians 3:27) Instead, many want to remain in their sinful lives, enjoying the passing pleasures of sin, yet still grasping salvation. Because of their continued walking in sin (whether it be gambling, drinking sexual immorality, foul language, greed, or any other sin), they will fall in the wilderness, never reaching the promised land that they might otherwise be so close to.
Many more refuse to submit to the Lord in baptism. (Acts 2:38, 22:16; John 2:5; I Peter 3:21) There any number of passages in the New Testament which teach that it is necessary to be baptized (that is, immersed) in order to have sin washed away and be granted salvation. Just as so many Israelites refused to obediently submit to God and fell in the wilderness, so will those who refuse to submit to the Lord in baptism.

Many fail to remain faithful to the Lord. (Matthew 24:13; Revelation 2:10) Many are appeased by being told that it is impossible to surrender salvation once the Lord has granted it. It is certainly true that nothing can forcibly separate us from this gift that has been granted. (John 10:28; Romans 8:39) It is also certainly true, however, that any person may choose to turn his or her back on God and surrender the gift that they have received. (Luke 8:13; Hebrews 6:6) Just as many of those among Israel's number had been faithful to the Lord for a time, but then turned aside and fell in the wilderness, many today will serve faithfully for a time, only to fall short of the promised land.

Just as most of those who were accountable fell in the wilderness, so most today will fall short and perish. (Matthew 7:14; Luke 13:22-25) The only alternative to this is to be like Joshua and Caleb. If we wish to enter the promised land, we must be wholeheartedly trusting and faithful. We must be willing to submit to the commands of the Lord, even when it is most difficult. Like the other ten spies, Joshua and Caleb saw the sons of Anak and the fortified cities. But unlike the other spies and the rest of the Israelites, they had the faith to do what was required of them to receive the promise.

Imagine the way it must have felt to be an Israelite and be told that although you had come so far and gotten so close to the promise, you had fallen short and would perish without ever setting foot in Canaan. If you do not faithfully obey the Lord, you will find yourself in much the same place come judgment day. It is with this in mind that the Hebrew writer warns Christians to live faithfully. (Hebrews 3:7-4:10) Moreover, the writer tells us exactly when we must be willing to place our faith in the Lord and serve Him obediently. In Hebrews 3:7-11, Hebrews 3:15, and Hebrews 4:7, three times in this short passage, the Hebrew writer states that today is the day.

You are not guaranteed another day. You are not guaranteed so much as another minute. And so it is important to examine yourself and see which path you are following. Is your life reflective of those who fell in the wilderness? Is your faith less than wholehearted? Is your faith and trust in the Lord weak and incomplete? Are you unwilling to obediently serve the Lord when it is difficult or appears perilous? Or are you more similar to Joshua and Caleb? Are you wholeheartedly following the Lord, putting complete trust in Him and His power? Are you willing to follow the Lord even when it is tough and everyone else around you opposes you?

When the Lord returns and many enter the promised land, will you be one of those permitted to enter? Or will you perish, having fallen in the wilderness and never able to enter the land of rest?