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Why Moses could not enter the promised land

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gideons300

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In another post, one asked why Moses could not enter the promised land. This answer following explained it, but there is a far greater lesson hidden for us today.

As far as I can see, there is a much deeper reason for God not allowing Moses to enter the promised land than that he struck the rock rather than speak to it as God commanded.

Why then? The law cannot inherit the rest that remaineth for the people of God and Moses was the law giver. Faith speaks out what God has promised...the law depends our our doing, our efforts, our strength to fulfill the words.


When Moses struck the rock, it was typifying our human efforts to be good Christians. I call it the gospel according to Nike...JUST DO IT. It leaves us frustrated, condemned, and stuck in Romans 7, wretched men crying out for deliverance (or worse yet, not crying out for deliverance at all, convincing ourselves that this is the most the gospel promises us).

But faith speaks into existance what has been promised and Moses' actions were not faith actions but typifying the law.

Who did enter in if Moses did not? Let's first look at who did not.

Not one of the 10 spies who came back with unbelieving reports as to the ability of the Israelites to take the land God has promised them entered in. Their bones bleached white in the desert they chose over walking in true obedience- believing their God.

Not one of the over 600,000 men whose hearts melted for fear when told there were giants in the land entered in. They wandered in circles, always moving, never getting anywhere, never "arriving", and they too died, receiving not the promise.

So who did go in from the original contingent of over 1 million men and women who left Egypt via the miracle of the Red Sea?

TWO men (about 1/3000th of a percent of the Israelite men if my math skills are not failing me).

Yes, you are right, it was the the two spies who had the bold audacity to believe that regardless of how impossible it seemed to overcome the odds of them being victorious, they stood by God's promise and said "God has given us the land. He has told us that every single step we take will be our possession forever. We are well able to take the land." These two were Joshua and Caleb.

What a picture for us today. The law, no matter how adhered to, will not bring one into rest, into the land flowing with milk and honey. Faith alone is what moves God, for faith looks away from our inadequacies and looks to God's strength and the fact that our God CANNOT lie.

So what has God promised us? Forgiveness? Yes, but there is more, MUCH more. Forgiveness gets us out of Egypt but it does not get us into the rest that remains for the people of God.

And what is that much more?

That sin will not have dominion over us. That He will not allow us to be tempted above that which we re able to bear. That our shield of faith WILL quench all the fiery arrows of our enemy. That condemnation will be a thing of the past, not "theoretically" but never to be felt again.

So, will we be part of the majority and return from the borders of the promised land of our rest to wander our life away in the wilderness of unbelief, or will we risk everyrthing, our reputation, our good standing with others, our trust in ourselves and our strength, our determination, our own self righteousess and believe the unbelievable?

God has promised that we who are walking in the new covenant will have His desires planted into new hearts and from there cause us to walk as obedient children. Obedience is neededin both covenants. Under the first, it is a requirement, under the second, a promise. Self-control is needed in both covenants. Under the first, it is on our shoulders to perform and the reult is we do not. We want to but we do not, no matter how much we try. Those who think they do are simply pharisees in new clothes. Ah, but under the second, the new covenant, where do we find the self control we need to walk as obedient children? It is given to us, a fruit of the spirit abiding within us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness and ... ah, there it is ....self control!

Feeling audacious? :)

Blessings,

Gideon
 

WinBySurrender

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To all who would consider believing what has been posted here:

What Moses did that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord was two fold, and lack, or strength, of faith had nothing to do with either. First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water.
Numbers 20
9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him;
10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, "Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" [Emphasis added]
Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses did this in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Moses’ punishment was that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Some people insist on making the Bible fit their denomination's doctrine rather than letting God speak for Himself.
 
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gideons300

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Brother, what is it that I have done to upset you? In every post I have made that you have responded to, you seem angry and won't even "look me in the eyes" and speak directly to me. This is the fourth time it has happened and I am confused as to what about me is bothering you.

Has not Jesus told us that if we disagree with a brother, that we are to gently try to lead them back to what we believe is truth? Is that not in scripture?

We have never met but hopefully if we do, we will get along wonderfully. I am not some religious zealot spewing out false doctrine so I can send people to an eternity without God. I have served our master for 40 years, 38 of which I battled a very untameable flesh, and it finally got to the point I broke before God and admitted that my way was not working, that try as I might, I did not truly love as He loved me, nor did I walk in the victory He so clearly promised.

Two years ago, I had my own "road to Damascus" experience and God, in His mercy, helped me see what I had read five hundred times, but never did. I never reckoned myself dead unto sin and alive unto Christ. I cannot even describe the change it has wrought in my inner man.

In truth, if you had acted this way to me the way I used to be, I would have been at your throat, spiritually speaking, but God has filled me with more of Him and all I want to do is walk in peace with you. We may not agree on everything, but I think if we sat down and talked, you might see I am pretty approachable and down to earth. What God has shown me has not made me haughty and proud but just the opposite, which is a mirace if you knew how I used to be. If it took me 38 years to see what I know see, how can I rush God to try to get others to see from a few random LONG (sorry 'bout that!) posts.

If you have any questions about what i believe the scriptures plainly show us, I will do anything in my power to try to explain questions that might arise in you, As this is not "conventional" thinking about how to overcome sin and self, I realize that at first, there will be fears and misunderstandings. it is the nature of the beast. But I pray that I can walk it out for any doubters and if I fail, please understand that it is still in me to fail, jsut ask my wife! LOL. Lord, let my faith grow.

I love you brother and hope we can walk in peace and mutual respect and I really look forward to a time we can walk in full agreement as to what truth is, no matter who is closer now to the mark.

Many blessings,

Gideon
 
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phoenixdem

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To all who would consider believing what has been posted here:

What Moses did that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord was two fold, and lack, or strength, of faith had nothing to do with either. First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water.
Numbers 20
9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, "Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" [Emphasis added]
Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses did this in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Moses’ punishment was that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Some people insist on making the Bible fit their denomination's doctrine rather than letting God speak for Himself.

"Some people insist on making the Bible fit their denomination's doctrine rather than letting God speak for Himself.

That is the absolute truth. Some doctrine isn't a life-saving issue, but other doctrine is most important. Paul had to write letters to churches of his day to correct errors in doctrine. All doctrines of God are important. That is why we have the Scriptures today. All things that come from the mind and mouth of God should be obeyed and believed. No man is completely knowledgeable, but God is.
 
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gideons300

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"Some people insist on making the Bible fit their denomination's doctrine rather than letting God speak for Himself.

That is the absolute truth. Some doctrine isn't a life-saving issue, but other doctrine is most important. Paul had to write letters to churches of his day to correct errors in doctrine. All doctrines of God are important. That is why we have the Scriptures today. All things that come from the mind and mouth of God should be obeyed and believed. No man is completely knowledgeable, but God is.
I agree wholeheartedly.

So, when we are told to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, when we are told that sin shall not have dominion over us, when we are told that the strength of sin is the law, and that he that is dead is freed from the law, when we are told that we are not in the flesh but in the spirit, what do we DO with those amazing truths? Have we become blind? Will we do what we say we always do, believe them, no matter where it leads us, or will we hide from them because they stretch our long held beliefs (or is it unbeliefs?) to the point of breaking?


I have found we simply refuse to adopt these as the truths they are because to do so will undermine the religious ground we have camped on and since our minds cannot seem to be able ot wrap our heads around them, we simply come back with "Yes, but....." and the reasons why they do not mean what they plainly say begin to flow.

Blessings,

Gideon
 
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phoenixdem

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I agree wholeheartedly.

So, when we are told to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, when we are told that sin shall not have dominion over us, when we are told that the strength of sin is the law, and that he that is dead is freed from the law, when we are told that we are not in the flesh but in the spirit, what do we DO with those amazing truths? Have we become blind? Will we do what we say we always do, believe them, no matter where it leads us, or will we hide from them because they stretch our long held beliefs (or is it unbeliefs?) to the point of breaking?


I have found we simply refuse to adopt these as the truths they are because to do so will undermine the religious ground we have camped on and since our minds cannot seem to be able ot wrap our heads around them, we simply come back with "Yes, but....." and the reasons why they do not mean what they plainly say begin to flow.

Blessings,

Gideon

You are correct. When a person becomes born-again, he or she is no longer a slave to sin. The Scriptures are absolutely straight-forward on that matter as they are about indwelling sin and born-again believers sinning after conversion. There are two sides to that issue. We cannot look at only one side and think we have all of the answers, or believe that we are capable of teaching others.
 
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gideons300

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You are correct. When a person becomes born-again, he or she is no longer a slave to sin. The Scriptures are absolutely straight-forward on that matter as they are about indwelling sin and born-again believers sinning after conversion. There are two sides to that issue. We cannot look at only one side and think we have all of the answers, or believe that we are capable of teaching others.
Dear brother, think about what you just said. You agreed that we are no longer to be slaves to sin, correct. Who did Jesus say was a slave to sin? He that commits sin is a slave to sin.

So, we have to finally ask ourselves, is it working? Have we been liberated from the prison or just had sentence overturned, yet still waiting for the prison doors to swing open? If we are still held captivein reality and only "theoretically" free, do you not see our dilemma? We are forced to "play like" we are free, like we are joyful, like we are new creatures. The words are right but the power to overcome in reality is simply not there.

The true gospel either works or it doesn't, but we cannot balance on the fence picking and choosing when and where we believe His words and where we begin to say "yes, but....". We must let it judge us first, in order to find the glorious blessings God has for us.

As to indwelling sin, I am not a theologian, nor do i want to divert the subjet, but if the indwelling sin nature remains, it is kept under, and I do mean UNDER by faith.

As to born again believers sinning after conversion, absolutely, of course it happens. But we have gotten far too comfortable with our oft repeated sins. We have, at least most of us, sinned and repented, asked forgiveness again and again to the point it really does not slay us when we fail Him. Unbelief is so high and our faith in what God can do in us to change us into His image so low, that the cost of sin has been forgotten. We do not realize the magnitude of what sin costs anymore, and so we end up just going through the motions as to our "godly sorrow". The cost of continued sin in our lives simply is not counted, and thus our repentance is more and more closely resembling saying "Hail Mary's, protestant style. We have lost the ability to weep over our sins and we now more resemble the man in the temple who thought "Thank God I am not like that man over there", you know, the one who cried out, caring not who heard him "Father forgive me, I am a sinful man!" Which of the two was heard by the Father. Do we remember?

Eventually what happens is "presumptive grace" where, when we are tempted to sin, we count on His grace to forgive what we are about to do. This is a dangerous place indeed and is precariously close to turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, or license to sin.

You mention two sides and insisting I am out of balance. Does traditional Christianity teach the first side at all, that He can keep us from falling, that He will not allow us to be tempted above our abilities to withstand, that our shield of faith WILL quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, that we are more than conquorers?

Do you not think it strange how out of balance we are the other way? And if someone comes and states God said it possible, and shws scripture to back it up, will we look into it prayerfully or will we dismiss the notion as religious radicalism and run from the thought?

We are nearing the end, and it will soon be fence shaking time. Either we rid ourselves of our old natures now, or we will face choices of unbelievable magnitude later on.

Blessings,

Gideon
 
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Blessedj01

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I like this one:

"A. Moses was denied entrance into the Promised Land because he disobeyed God. (Numbers 20:1-12) The first time the Israelites needed water, the Lord told Moses to strike a large rock and water came forth (Exodus 17:1-7). The second time He told Moses to speak to the rock. But Moses was angry and yelled at the people and then struck the rock again, twice, and again water came out. So what was the problem?

The water was a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit that the Lord promised to all who believe (John 7:37-39) and the rock was a model of Christ, who had to be struck (crucified) before the Spirit could be given. But after His death one only needed to ask to receive the Spirit. By striking the rock the second time Moses was violating the lesson the Lord was trying to teach us. Jesus only had to die once for us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. After that all we have to do is ask to receive Him (Matt. 7:7-8) So this was more than a single act of disobedience on the part of Moses. It was in effect a denial of the sufficiency of the Lord’s death." So aren't you guys kind of saying the same thing?

http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/why-didnt-moses-go-into-the-promised-land/

Moses' disobedience through lack of faith, was probably the reason why he didn't enter the Promised Land. Is there anything else to argue about here?

p.s man I hate automatic formatting. see? it's still doing it.
 
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