Recently while studying the Bible, I was drawn to the fact that Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and his 12 sons, all lived within the borders of Canaan. The land of Canaan was significant to this family because God promised Abraham that his descendants would possess the land of Canaan.
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land [Canaan]…(Genesis 12:7)
As only God would have it, there was no straight line between the promise given and the promise being fulfilled. After dwelling in the land of Canaan for generations, God would send His chosen people into the land of Egypt.
And He said I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt: for I will there make of thee [Israel] a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt: and I will surely bring thee up again…(Genesis 46:3-4)
Israel was going into Egypt to be preserved from a famine that had taken over the earth. God had positioned Israel’s son, Joseph, as a leader in Egypt. Israel was received with honor by Pharaoh. However, over time, the children of Israel were despised and became enslaved to the Egyptians.
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we (Exodus 1:8-9).
It is interesting that the Egyptians noted the strength of the Israelites. They feared that if there was a war that the Israelites could join their enemies to defeat them. From a human perspective, the Egyptians wisely assessed a potential threat. From a spiritual perspective, what is being said about you? Does the enemy see anything that God is doing in you that he should fear? (I hope so)
The Egyptians decided to strike preemptively by making the Israelites their slaves.
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. (Exodus 1:11-12)
The Israelites’ afflictions didn’t break them; instead, they multiplied and grew. Isn’t that the way of the Lord? The thing that the enemy sends to break us, God uses it to multiply and grow what He has placed in us. Jesus explained it to us, “…And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2) Your growth is grief to the enemy!
The Bible is full of people who were given a promise from God but then their circumstances did not seem to align with what they heard. It could be easy to assume that because you are physically close to the place (or person) of promise that it is time for the promise to be fulfilled. The patriarchs were in the land of Canaan. Yet, God moved them away from the place of promise, and their descendants into slavery. Great promises from God require a process of personal growth.
As He did for the Israelites, God will deliver you from the enemy’s tactics with His mighty hand. However, there is still a journey (wilderness season) from the place of bondage to the place of promise. It is in the wilderness that you learn the heart of God, and a greater dependence upon Him. In the wilderness, you will be able to see Him move on your behalf from the greatest to the seemingly small things.
And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land: The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 29:2-6)
Let us pray for a heart to understand, eyes to see, and ears to hear, all that the Lord is doing for us in this season of our lives that we may be able to boldly proclaim that, “He is the Lord my God!” Let us wait patiently for the promises to be fulfilled in God’s perfect timing no matter how close, or how far, the place (or person) of promise may be to us.
…A wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? (Ecclesiastes 8:5-7)
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Copyright 2023 T.L. Lockley. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the King James Version®. Public domain
