Possess what God has promised!
By Phil Hills
Paul makes an amazing statement to the Corinthian church about the Exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan. He says it as an example to us, and it was recorded by the Holy Spirit as warnings for us. We should read the account with an awareness that we have the capacity to make the same mistakes as the children of Israel. Their history demonstrates abject human failure in the most promising possible circumstances. In spite of the promise of God to give them the land, in spite of the promise of supernatural provision, and in spite of the promise that God’s almighty presence would always be with them, they suffered serious setbacks, failed completely the first time, and a whole generation died in the desert without seeing the promise of God fulfilled.
God recorded their history so that you and I would not repeat it. God has promised that He will build His Church. He has given us a commission for the whole world, and He has promised that His presence will never leave us. It seems that we cannot fail, but we must never become complacent. We need to depend on Him every step of the way, listening to His voice and following His direction. That’s why these times of prayer are so important. It is also important that we read again and carefully consider Israel’s history that was intended to serve as an example so that we avoid any repetition of their failures, but rather we possess fully everything God has promised.
Key Scripture: "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come" (1 Corinthians 10:11 BSB).
Also read Genesis 12:1-3, 8; 13: 4, 18
Phil Hills is
CEO, Teen Challenge United Kingdom
Vice President, Global Teen Challeng
