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Many of the children of Israel, despite inheriting the promised land, never made it into the promised land because of unbelief, idolatry, complaining, and sexual immorality. That’s right, they missed their inheritance. And those that did make it in to claim their inheritance could have made their claim so much sooner. There is a pretty big difference between eleven days and forty years, don’t you think?
Moses, who was called by God to deliver them from bondage in Egypt and on to the promised land, had a message from God for them that despite all the many years that have passed since may well be a message for you too.
“…Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to…” Deuteronomy 1: 6-7
What was Moses’ message to the children of Israel in plain English?
YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS PLACE FOR TOO LONG.
TURN.
GO.
That’s right. He told them to turn. And he told them to go. It was time to move on. More precisely, it was long past time to move on. But rather than give up on them at that exact point in time as his flesh was likely screaming for him to do, he gave them their next set of instructions. It’s time to get a move on.
Interestingly, the Bible concordance shows that the original Hebrew word translated into “ye have dwelt” also means “to sit.” So one could say that they were sitting in place for too long when they should have been moving ahead.
Also, the Bible concordance reveals that the original Hebrew word translated into “take your journey” also means to “pull up especially their tent pins”. The children of Israel, now free from bondage in Egypt, were staying in tents that they needed to transport with them each time they made a move. But alas, they obviously weren’t moving their tents at the speed they could have – to say the least.
Additionally, the Lord calls them to “turn.” Doesn’t this imply that they are facing the wrong direction?
How long have you been sitting in the same place when you have sensed God calling you forward? Are you ready to make a move? Do you need to turn away from whatever you are facing and turn unto God to seek His face and go where He is calling you?
Countless people among the children of Israel never made it to the promised land. This was not because God didn’t give them the opportunity. It was because of their unbelief and disobedience.
Is the Lord’s message to the children of Israel all those years ago also for you?
If it is, then turn. Take your journey. Go to where He is calling you. And, most of all, make sure you turn unto Him.
Deu 1:6 The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:
Deu 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.