“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19 NIV.
Sometimes, where you are is not where you need to be.
My thoughts and comments today are about “promises and conditions.”
Promises are rarely unconditional. Inevitably, there will be one or more conditions inherent within a promise. With God, every promise is more grand and generous than you imagine, but there is usually a precondition to be met or an expectation to be accomplished by a willing heart. The commitment that God has made to you eternally is accompanied by expected and appropriate responses from you. “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19 NIV. The providential will of God is reserved for those who are first “willing and obedient.”
As I think through Scripture, I find the principle to be common. IF . . you forgive, you will be forgiven. Matthew 6:14 NIV. IF . . you give abundantly,you will receive accordingly. Luke 6:38 NAS. IF . . you have faith, you can please God. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV. IF . . you desire to follow Jesus, take up your cross daily. Luke 9:23 NKJV. IF . . you thirst, come and drink. John 7:37 NKJV. IF . . you love Jesus, you will obey. John 14:15 NIV. IF . . you confess Jesus is Lord, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NIV. IF . . you endure hardship, you will reign with Him. 2 Timothy 2:12 NLT. IF . . you confess your sins, He is faithful to forgive. 1 John 1:9 NIV. My Biblical examples are extensive but not exhaustive.
Moses brought Israel to the border of the land of God’s purpose and provision – a land providing bountifully all they would need – cities, houses, wells, fields, vineyards, and flocks and herds – but they feared the giants more than they desired the sufficiency and surplus there and more than they believed God’s promise and power. Many of them even spoke of returning to Egypt.
When God appeared to Joshua after Moses’ death, His direction to Joshua was succinct, “Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give. [There] I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” Joshua 1:2-3 NIV. (Also read Vs. 4-9 NIV). Everything good and plenty awaited them. What an incredible promise of inheritance and destiny. The conditions? They had to cross a swollen, flooding river and walk the land promised to them. The fledgling nation was once again at a crossroads in the purposes of God. Maybe you are at a place of decision in your life.
There are two practical observations of Joshua’s and Israel’s situation that I think are relevant to yours and my crossroad times.
(1) You have to leave where you’ve been, to go where you need to be. You may feel safer or more comfortable where you are but that doesn’t matter if that’s not where His blessings wait. Your spiritual life is a journey, from faith to faith and from glory to glory, into the greater purposes of God.
(2) You have to go where you are supposed to be, to receive what God promises to give. The promises of God are given and fulfilled on God’s terms, not yours. God’s promises and their conditions remain, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land.”
My prayer for you today is that you will be content only in the center of God’s purpose.