NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

Love and Loyalty

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
June 1, 2009

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“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;” Deuteronomy 11:26

Deuteronomy 11 is an exhortation by Moses with the central focus being the Land of Canaan. Canaan was God’s ultimate earthly objective or destination for His chosen people, the nation of Israel. God never intended for His people to live in the bondage of Egypt. The liberating blood of the Lamb would take care of that. They were not to be continually buffeted by the trials of the wilderness. Through faith in the power and purposes of God they could enjoy victory over the wilderness. They were destined to dwell in a blessed land where Jehovah would be their God and they would be His people.  

Things that proved to be true for the people of God in Moses’ day is true for us today. While Israel’s land was a secular place, ours is a spiritual position. Positioned in Christ we have access to a spiritual land of victory and blessing! We can gain great insight into our spiritual land by having a greater understanding of their secular land. 

Overview of the Land

The first thing that Moses reminded them of was that it was a promised land, “that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed” (vs.8-9a). This land was the promised possession of God’s people. When Abram and Lot separated, God told Abram to lift up his eyes and look in every direction. All that he saw was to one day be given to the descendants of Abram (See Genesis 13:14-18). The land of Canaan was not promised to just a select few, but it was the promised possession of all of Abraham’s seed. While all would not possess the land, all were given the promise of possession! We too, have been given some promises; “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus would also say, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Paul reminds us, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). As the purchased possession, we occupy a promised position! 

Moses reminded them that they had access to a productive land, “a land that floweth with milk and honey. For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven” (vs.9-11). The land that they were to occupy would be one of substance as well as one of sweetness. When the spies entered the land, they brought back the evidence of the fruitfulness of Canaan, “And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs” (Numbers 13:23). We too can enjoy a productive position in Christ, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:7-8.) 

The children of Israel were to enjoy a protected land, “A land which the Lord  thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord  thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year” (vs.12). The defense of that land would not be left up to the abilities of the Israelites, but God Himself would defend and protect that land. We occupy a protected position in Christ, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). Paul reminds us of this great truth, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). 

The last thing that Moses reminded them of is that the land is a possessable land, “Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord  your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you” (vs.23-25). While the land was promised, productive, and protected, it would be of no worth if they could not possess the land. God wanted them to know that it was theirs for the claiming! We too can possess all that is ours in Christ.  

Occupation of the Land

While the land is theirs to occupy, all will not take possession of it and those that take possession may not keep it. Occupation of the land of Canaan will not be determined by self-effort or the works of the flesh. They were brought out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God and conducted through the wilderness by that same hand. If they were to occupy Canaan, it would be accomplished by that same hand. Their journey had begun in grace and it would conclude in grace. It was all of God! 

The question that we must concern ourselves with is, “What must one do to occupy this land of milk and honey?” I do not want the answer to be an over simplification of the truth, but sometimes we have a tendency to make things harder than they are. Two words will help give clarity to what is required to occupy the land of victory. The first is choice, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse” (vs.26). For those that have chosen to occupy the land, there is yet another choice to be made, we must decide between the blessing and the curse. This choice will determine the quality of life that they will have in the land. While the ultimate purpose of God is for His people to live in the land and enjoy victory and experience prosperity, they will make that choice.  

The choice will be revealed by our conduct. Our conduct will determine whether we are recipients of the blessing or the curse. There are basically two things that God desires of His people, love and loyalty. Within Deuteronomy 11, three times we find the phrase, “love the Lord” (vs.1, 13, 22). God just wants His people to love Him! When Jesus was asked what was the greatest of all the commandments, He replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). In addition to love, God wants our loyalty. There is a word used three times in reference to God’s commandments in Deuteronomy 11. It is the word, “keep” (vs.1, 8, 22). God wants His people to be loyal by being obedient to His Word. Speaking to His followers, Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Jesus also rebuked them with these words, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The only requirements for reaping to full benefits of a promised, productive, protected, and possessable land is love and loyalty. In many cases, the blessing of God is as simple as Love and Loyalty! You make the choice! 

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