Thoughts on The Promised Land and Kingdom of God

This morning an interesting idea popped into my mind, concerning the Promised Land, and how that is some type, a shadow of what was to be revealed in Christ. I was reading through Nehemiah yesterday, and at one point they were called to confess their history, and their sins, and the following verses come from that confession - Nehemiah 9:19-27 NIV:

[19] "“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. [20] You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. [21] For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. 

[22] “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. [23] You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. [24] Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. [25] They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. 

[26] “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. [27] So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies."

I have always read about the Promised Land, and part of God's whole promise was to help the Jews conquer that land, subdue it, and take possession of a land that was in the possession of others, and never thought much of it.  With the recent escalation of violence and battles for land and power in the Middle East, my mind, heart and prayers have been constantly turned towards them, and this morning I was once again drawn back to these verses.

Having read through the whole of the scriptures, it is quite clear that this was part of God's plan, and His plan as it is revealed in both the Old and New testaments is full of things we don't fully understand.  The Old testament was always pointing towards the future and the coming of the Messiah.   Much of the Old Testament Law was a type and shadow of things to come.  

The Jews, in Jesus' day were under Roman rule, and were crying out once again for redemption and rescue to God.  They were waiting for the promised Messiah, one who would rescue them from the Romans and set up God's kingdom on earth once again!  Their history pointed to this type of salvation, and we see it here in Nehemiah, as they reminded themselves of God's movement on their behalf. They were also aware of their inability to follow God's plan, His Law, or to even keep Him in their hearts!  Their history was one of constant falling away and God having mercy and compassion.  

With the coming of Jesus, and His ministry, they thought the time had come for their deliverance, and they were correct, but not in the way they expected.  They wanted a military leader, a  King to sit on an earthly throne, one who would lead them to victory on the battlefield, allow them to take possession of their promised land once again, and shower them with the riches of nations that he subdued.  Instead they received the Messiah of God's promise, one who set them free from the power of sin and death, one's whose Kingdom was not geography, but instead found in the hearts of men and women!  

Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God was at hand, and rather than defeating the Romans, He defeated the real enemy, and showed Himself powerful over sin, sickness, the demonic, and even over nature!  He has all authority and all power!  He has shown Himself merciful, compassionate, loving and faithful!  He knows our condition, our proclivity for sin and falling away, and yet again He has made a way for us all, offering salvation to any that come to Him.

His Kingdom absolutely is one that takes possession of 'a land previously occupied' but this is in our hearts, minds and souls!  We are all captives of the power of sin and death prior to our salvation! He has come to win back all that was lost and it is much more than a piece of geography in the middle East, He is after the hearts and souls of all men and women!  He is waging war against the kingdom of the true enemy of our souls.  Paul brings revelation to this when he writes in Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV:

[10] "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

[18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. [19] Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Let us pray for the real battle that is being waged.  There is a spirit behind the hatred, and we must protect our hearts and minds against such an attack.  We must be purveyors, messengers of the Gospel of Peace!!  Let us pray for the salvation of those in Gaza and Israel!  Let us pray for the salvation of our communities, our neighbors, and our sons and daughters!  Let us be about advancing the true Kingdom of God!  

Lord, protect and bless all your sons and daughters!  Oh that the son of righteousness would rise with healing in His wings!  

Amen and Amen!