Claiming His Promises

Numbers 21:31 (ESV) Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

I am disappointed in God today. I don't want to get out of bed. I just want to vent, blog and devour a bar of chocolate.

Have you ever felt like God promised you something and He didn't deliver? You're the new graduate pursuing the job you envisioned for yourself. You're the cancer patient claiming that God will melt your tumors away. You're the broken-hearted single waiting for God to heal your heart and bring you a relationship that works. You're the couple waiting for the child God promised you. Didn't He say that He wanted us to increase and multiply?

But day after day, as you trudge through the humdrum of your routine, there is no change. You find yourself yet again on the airport, waiting for the plane to your promised land, and as you look through the schedule boards the plane never seems to arrive.

If you are like me, you probably went through a period of doubt. God, are the promises that you planted in my heart just in my head? Am I hearing you right or did I make a mistake? And all you hear is a deafening silence.

And one day, you give up on His promises. You give up on waiting for the plane. You leave the airport and settle back to what you already have, all the while convincing yourself that what you have today is what's best for you. So suck it up and be happy.

But the lessons from the verses above tell us a different story.

Yes, God promised the Israelites the land, but it wasn't handed to them on a silver platter. The Israelites needed to do their part. They needed to actively engage in a process to claim God's promise.

First, the Israelites decided to get out of their comfort zone--the desert. Imagine a desert, a place with limited resources, a place that wasn't meant to sustain life for the long term. Yes, God provided for the Israelites for forty years in this desert, but it wasn't the destination He meant for them. God desired to multiply their blessings. It was clear to the Israelites that they needed to move out of their desert and into a land that was flowing with milk and honey and the Israelites make a firm decision to do so.

Do you have a comfort zone? Do you feel like God is telling you to make a firm decision to move out of this comfort zone and move into something greater than what you currently have?

Second, the Israelites planned and strategized. Numbers 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. Before engaging in battle, the Israelites spied the land, probably investigating how the people organized themselves and how best they could dispossess the Amorites.

Have you carefully studied and investigated what God wants you to move into?

Third, the Israelites overcame their fears. Numbers 31:34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” After doing what we need to do--make a firm decision, plan and strategize, we need to listen to God and surrender our fears to Him. Trust that He will see you through challenging circumstances.

Do you have fears that are holding you back? Have you surrendered them to God? Do you trust Him enough to see you through your difficult circumstances?

Fourth, the Israelites faced their challenges and defeated them. Numbers 31:35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land. This is the part we take action to move in and claim God's promises.

Shoot a prayer:

Reflect on the questions above and ask God to give you the wisdom and strength to claim His promises.