Entering the Land 2

We saw how God had intended for Israel to keep Pentecost in Canaan. But because some were unclean, they could not keep Passover at the prescribed time. Therefore they lost 30 days because they had to wait one month to keep Passover on the 14th of the second month. Still it was only a 11 day march to Canaan, and they still had 20 days left until Pentecost.

Israel spent Pentecost in the wilderness and God shut the door to Canaan to that whole generation. When God shut the door no man could open it again. Israel realized they had sinned and tried to go on in, but the Amlekites and Canaanites struck them down.

In order to understand the consequences of not entering the land in God's time schedule, we would have to follow Israel through 40 years of wandering. However to get a typical view we could just look at the first year following God closing the door to Canaan.

1CO 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1CO 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1CO 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 1CO 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 1CO 10:5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 1CO 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. 1CO 10:7 And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "\ The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play. \" 1CO 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 1CO 10:9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 1CO 10:10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 1COR 10:11 NOW THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO THEM AS AN EXAMPLE AND WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR INSTRUCTION , UPON WHOM THE END OF THE AGES HAVE COME.

Bitterness, accusations, criticism of leaders, back-sliding and blaming others for their own failure is typical of those who missed God. Most who missed God's move didn't know they missed it, but few ever finished their course happy, contented and in peace. Many died spiritually along the way.

When God closed the door to Canaan, He immediately gave more statutes and ordinances to Israel. These were for those who sinned unintentionally and for the ones who sinned high handedly, or with full knowledge and defiantly. God said the latter was blaspheming the Lord. He said the one who sins intentionally shall be cut off from Israel, because he has despised the word of the Lord. His guilt shall remain upon him. In other words, there is no sacrifice for that sin. NUMB.15: 30 - 31.

Immediately following this statute, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath. God's word was clear. Obviously this man knew but sinned intentionally. God said to stone him. Things were getting more serious. God was expecting people to listen and obey.

NUM 16:1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took {action,} NUM 16:2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. NUM 16:3 And they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?"

Also 250 leaders of Israel stood with Korah and his company against Moses. Moses told them all to take censers and put fire and incense on them. They were actually challenging Aaron's appointment as high priest. Maybe Moses just appointed him because he was Moses' brother.

NUM 16:11 "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?" NUM 16:12 Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, "We will not come up. NUM 16:13 "Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us? NUM 16:14 "Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!" NUM 16:17 "And each of you take his firepan and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty firepans; also you and Aaron {shall} each {bring} his firepan." NUM 16:18 So they each took his {own} censer and put fire on it, and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.

Dathan and Abiram blamed Moses for not taking them into Canaan, and trying to lord it over them. They said it was Moses' fault they didn't receive the inheritance and now they must die in the wilderness. Believers quickly forget their own failures and blame others.

NUM 16:26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, lest you be swept away in all their sin." NUM 16:27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out {and} stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones. NUM 16:31 Then it came about as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them split open; NUM 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah, with {their} possessions. NUM 16:33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. NUM 16:35 Fire also came forth from the \Lord\ and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense. God said they had sinned at the cost of their lives. V -38

NUM 16:46 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense {on it;} then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!" NUM 16:48 And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. NUM 16:49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah.

Then God told Moses to get a rod from each of the 12 tribes of Israel and one from Aaron. God said, the one I have chosen will sprout. When they laid their rods before the Ark of the Covenant Aaron's rod sprouted, budded, produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds. All this is a testimony against Israel so they would not complain any more about God’s leadership and die.

Now God gave them more statutes and ordinances concerning the guilt of the congregation that would come upon them. He specified the priest's portion of the sacrifices, the tithes, the first fruits and He gave the ashes of the red heifer for the purifying of the unclean.

NUM 20:3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! NUM 20:4 "Why then have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? NUM 20:5 "And why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink."

NUM 20:8 "Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink." NUM 20:11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. NUM 20:12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would yield it's water. The first time Moses struck the rock and it was right. The next time he struck the rock it was wrong. What worked 2 years before won't work now. Last time you strike, this time you speak. Moses got careless and offended God.

We could make many applications and use many examples that apply to the church in our day and over the years. It is obvious that," saved from Egypt," doesn't mean everyone automatically has wisdom or understanding. Water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn't guarantee us any real insight into God's ways. Even all the provision at Mt. Sinai and the divine order of God's mighty army doesn't guarantee we will have enough brains to follow God and posses the promises.

Jesus said "The poor you will always have with you." I have added to that "The poor complainers"," The contentious poor" , " The poor accusers", we will always have with us. That is all part of the church and that is all part of the ministry, as we see with Israel. God's people are dull of understanding and quick to blame others for their own failures. Most do not want to take responsibility for their own backsliding or laziness in seeking God or in their rebellion.

Many will find some leader to blame and when any leader is under that pressure long enough sooner or later he will make a mistake and stumble. Most leaders do not make it as far as Moses. He was the humblest man on the earth. But thank God most churches are not as contentious as Moses' church. Still, in every church there is always a small percentage of people who are satisfied. In every church there are always those who are looking for a new and better church. In every church there are some who want to go back to the customs and traditions of the past.

In every church there are those who are just looking for a little change. No big shake up. Like a woman that just wants to re-arrange the furniture and add some color. Not much change but it looks different. Cosmetic changes and superficial reorganization will satisfy some.

In this next advancement and restoration, God will NOT provide for everyone's desire. God will provide for everyone who sincerely wants to fulfill God's purpose and move in God's time table. God will include all who have a Kingdom attitude and live by Kingdom principles. The next move of God will have the Kingdom Government of God in view. Rebellion against the move will be a rebellion against God.

In the above list, we understand the ones God is not able to use to restore truth. But we might think God is pleased with those who are satisfied. No! Those who are satisfied will not move quick enough, or be alert. Each of us should feel dissatisfied, frustrated and be seeking God for change. Not change for change sake but the change that will keep us abreast with God.

This is not the time for warmed over programs and superficial adjustments of the past. This is the time of intense and careful listening to the voice of God, and a watching for the cloud to move, and a listening for the trumpet to sound the advance. This is not the time for criticism, complaining, accusation or contention. If we are faithful, God will not leave us behind. We have been at this mountain long enough. It is time to posses our inheritance.

God saw this from the beginning and the only solution was for that generation was to die in the wilderness and He would bring the next generation into the land. Is it possible that we are that generation that God will bring into His promises ??

Their 40 years in the wilderness was preparation for the “evidence of their conversion” at the Jordan river. The river was a flood stage but the priests carrying the Ark put their feet in the flood and the waters parted. Everyone was able to cross over without incident.


	ENTERING THE LAND NO 2 WHAT DID ISRAEL LEARN FROM THEIR FAILURE TO ENTER CANAAN? We saw how God had intended for Israel to keep Pentecost in Canaan. But because some were unclean, they could not keep Passover at the prescribed time. Therefore they lost 30 days because they had to wait one month to keep Passover on the 14th of the second month. Still it was only a 11 day march to Canaan, and they still had 20 days left until Pentecost. Then Israel demanded meat to eat, many died and they had to delay to bury their dead. Now it was only an 8 day march to Canaan and they still had 15 days until Pentecost. They had 7 days to spare. Now Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses and Miriam broke out with leprosy. She had to go outside the camp 7 days. If Israel didn't complain or delay any further, there was a possibility they could just enter Canaan for Pentecost. When they got to the border Moses told them not to delay but go on in. However they wanted to send in spies to check out the land. They didn't believe God's word, that it was a good land. Israel spent Pentecost in the wilderness and God shut the door to Canaan to that whole generation. When God shut the door no man could open it again. Israel realized they had sinned and tried to go on in, but the Amlekites and Canaanites struck them down. In order to understand the consequences of not entering the land in God's time schedule, we would have to follow Israel through 40 years of wandering. However to get a typical view we could just look at the first year following God closing the door to Canaan. This is not a pretty picture. We might think Israel learned a great lesson and then followed God completely. This entire generation would not change or even recognize their wicked ways. These things were written down us as a picture and as a warning for us. 1CO 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1CO 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1CO 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 1CO 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 1CO 10:5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 1CO 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. 1CO 10:7 And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "\ The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play. \" 1CO 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 1CO 10:9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 1CO 10:10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 1COR 10:11 NOW THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO THEM AS AN EXAMPLE AND WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR INSTRUCTION , UPON WHOM THE END OF THE AGES HAVE COME. All these events were not recorded simply as historical facts. They are given as examples of God's people who have misunderstood God's time. Bitterness, accusations, criticism of leaders, back-sliding and blaming others for their own failure is typical of those who missed God. Most who missed God's move didn't know they missed it, but few ever finished their course happy, contented and in peace. Many died spiritually along the way. When God closed the door to Canaan, He immediately gave more statutes and ordinances to Israel. These were for those who sinned unintentionally and for the ones who sinned high handedly, or with full knowledge and defiantly. God said the latter was blaspheming the Lord. He said the one who sins intentionally shall be cut off from Israel, because he has despised the word of the Lord. His guilt shall remain upon him. In other words, there is no sacrifice for that sin. NUMB.15: 30 - 31. Immediately following this statute, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath. God's word was clear. Obviously this man knew but sinned intentionally. God said to stone him. Things were getting more serious. God was expecting people to listen and obey. NUM 16:1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took {action,} NUM 16:2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. NUM 16:3 And they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" Now three men rose up against Moses and said all the congregation is holy and therefore equal. God is in our midst so who are you? Also 250 leaders of Israel stood with Korah and his company against Moses. Moses told them all to take censers and put fire and incense on them. They were actually challenging Aaron's appointment as high priest. Maybe Moses just appointed him because he was Moses' brother. NUM 16:11 "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?" NUM 16:12 Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, "We will not come up. NUM 16:13 "Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us? NUM 16:14 "Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!" NUM 16:17 "And each of you take his firepan and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty firepans; also you and Aaron {shall} each {bring} his firepan." NUM 16:18 So they each took his {own} censer and put fire on it, and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron. Dathan and Abiram blamed Moses for not taking them into Canaan, and trying to lord it over them. They said it was Moses' fault they didn't receive the inheritance and now they must die in the wilderness. Believers quickly forget their own failures and blame others. NUM 16:26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, lest you be swept away in all their sin." NUM 16:27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out {and} stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones. NUM 16:31 Then it came about as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them split open; NUM 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah, with {their} possessions. NUM 16:33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. NUM 16:35 Fire also came forth from the \Lord\ and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense. God said they had sinned at the cost of their lives. V -38 NUM 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord's people." Now all the sons of Israel gathered against Moses and accused him of being responsible for the death of all those people. God's people have a habit of blaming someone else for their own failures. God told Moses to stand back from this whole congregation and He would burn them up also. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and interceded for Israel. However the plague had already broken out among the rebels. NUM 16:46 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense {on it;} then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!" NUM 16:48 And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. NUM 16:49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. Then God told Moses to get a rod from each of the 12 tribes of Israel and one from Aaron. God said, the one I have chosen will sprout. When they laid their rods before the Ark of the Covenant Aaron's rod sprouted, budded, produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds. All this is a testimony against Israel so they would not complain any more about God’s leadership and die. Now God gave them more statutes and ordinances concerning the guilt of the congregation that would come upon them. He specified the priest's portion of the sacrifices, the tithes, the first fruits and He gave the ashes of the red heifer for the purifying of the unclean. NUM 20:1 Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. It appears another year had past but 90 days more would be a full year since their failure to enter. They had come back again to the wilderness of zin where there was no water and Moses struck the rock. NUM 20:3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! NUM 20:4 "Why then have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? NUM 20:5 "And why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink." NUM 20:8 "Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink." NUM 20:11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. NUM 20:12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." Then Israel again complained that all their problems were Moses' fault and accused him of not giving them the promised inheritance. By this time Moses must have been getting a little weary of all the contentions and acted rashly. God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would yield it's water. The first time Moses struck the rock and it was right. The next time he struck the rock it was wrong. What worked 2 years before won't work now. Last time you strike, this time you speak. Moses got careless and offended God. Water still came out of the rock and all the people were blessed. God was faithful to his word but said Moses dishonored God by his disobedience. Because of that Moses and Aaron were forbidden to bring Israel into Canaan. The guilt of the congregation had indeed come upon both Moses and Aaron and both were forbidden to enter the land. We could make many applications and use many examples that apply to the church in our day and over the years. It is obvious that," saved from Egypt," doesn't mean everyone automatically has wisdom or understanding. Water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn't guarantee us any real insight into God's ways. Even all the provision at Mt. Sinai and the divine order of God's mighty army doesn't guarantee we will have enough brains to follow God and posses the promises. Jesus said "The poor you will always have with you." I have added to that "The poor complainers"," The contentious poor" , " The poor accusers", we will always have with us. That is all part of the church and that is all part of the ministry, as we see with Israel. God's people are dull of understanding and quick to blame others for their own failures. Most do not want to take responsibility for their own backsliding or laziness in seeking God or in their rebellion. Many will find some leader to blame and when any leader is under that pressure long enough sooner or later he will make a mistake and stumble. Most leaders do not make it as far as Moses. He was the humblest man on the earth. But thank God most churches are not as contentious as Moses' church. Still, in every church there is always a small percentage of people who are satisfied. In every church there are always those who are looking for a new and better church. In every church there are some who want to go back to the customs and traditions of the past. In every church there are always those who, in their heart, want to forget the whole thing and go back to Egypt In every church there are those who are just looking for a little change. No big shake up. Like a woman that just wants to re-arrange the furniture and add some color. Not much change but it looks different. Cosmetic changes and superficial reorganization will satisfy some. In this next advancement and restoration, God will NOT provide for everyone's desire. God will provide for everyone who sincerely wants to fulfill God's purpose and move in God's time table. God will include all who have a Kingdom attitude and live by Kingdom principles. The next move of God will have the Kingdom Government of God in view. Rebellion against the move will be a rebellion against God. In the above list, we understand the ones God is not able to use to restore truth. But we might think God is pleased with those who are satisfied. No! Those who are satisfied will not move quick enough, or be alert. Each of us should feel dissatisfied, frustrated and be seeking God for change. Not change for change sake but the change that will keep us abreast with God. This is not the time for warmed over programs and superficial adjustments of the past. This is the time of intense and careful listening to the voice of God, and a watching for the cloud to move, and a listening for the trumpet to sound the advance. This is not the time for criticism, complaining, accusation or contention. If we are faithful, God will not leave us behind. We have been at this mountain long enough. It is time to posses our inheritance. What did Israel learn from all their wanderings? NOTHING ! God saw this from the beginning and the only solution was for that generation was to die in the wilderness and He would bring the next generation into the land. Is it possible that we are that generation that God will bring into His promises ?? Their 40 years in the wilderness was preparation for the “evidence of their conversion” at the Jordan river. The river was a flood stage but the priests carrying the Ark put their feet in the flood and the waters parted. Everyone was able to cross over without incident.