Each of us would like to have the ability to predict future events. Many make a good living by predicting the weather, economical trends or political events. Most important to us as individuals, however, is a knowledge of what will happen in our lives. Fortunately God knows how important this is to us, so He tells us what is going to happen to us in the future. You may well ask, ‘How does God do this?” One way is through parables. The specific parable I refer to is probably the longest parable in the Bible. The literal events happened over a period of 40 years. The literal events concern the nation of Israel about 1500 years before Christ. They took place during the period from the exodus from Egypt to the entrance into Canaan. These events form a parable of the life of a follower of Christ. By studying this parable we can know beforehand the things that will happen in our life. By knowing these things prior to their occurrence we can be prepared to cope with them when they happen.
A brief overview of the literal events of the parable brings to mind that Israel was in bondage in Egypt. Through the power of God, under the leadership of Moses, they were delivered from this bondage. Apparently trapped by the waters of the Red Sea, they were saved by God’s miraculous power and escaped on dry land into the wilderness, leaving the dead Egyptians on the shore. After several years of trial, sustenance and spiritual upbuilding in the wilderness they were given a chance to enter the land of promise. However, because of the lack of faith of the majority, the immediate entrance into the land that flowed with milk and honey was denied and they were banished to a life of wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Finally, after the faithless generation had died out, the children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua crossed the Jordan River into the Land promised to their fathers. Their trials were over and they entered into the Land of Promise.
These events, as we have indicated, form a parable of the life of a true believer in Christ properly called a saint. Initially he was in bondage to sin. He came out of this state of bondage through the waters of baptism. Immediately he is subjected to trials which continue throughout his life under God. If he sustains his faith and uses his trust in God to resist trials, he will cross the Jordan river into the Promised Land of eternal life. Salvation in the Promised Land is the ultimate reward of the true believer in Christ.
This is a brief synopsis of the parable —a look at the conclusion at the back-of the-book. Now let us review the import ant details that lead to that conclusion.
God Could Have Taken a Short Cut
Before getting into the details of the wilderness wanderings, let us observe one important point. God could have taken Israel directly from Egypt to Canaan by the short route along the coast. The route is only 250 miles long and follows the coast line where there are no arid desert hills and the climate is tempered by the sea breezes. Instead God led Israel over 750 miles through the hot, dry wilderness which was interspersed with many arid mountains.
Why did God choose this way? Because the journey through the wilderness was one designed to form Israel into a people dependent on God. It was designed to test them, separate them from the nations of the earth and develop their faith.
Our life is controlled by God with the same goals in mind. He wants to test us, form us, develop our faith, so that we will become a people fit for His service. He could lead us the easy way, directly to eternal life, but that is not his way.
As we look at the successive chapters in the parable we can readily see their application to the development of our personal and ecclesial life.
Chapter 1, the Trap; No Way Out!
As Israel left Canaan, they traveled southeast directly toward the wilderness. Suddenly, however, they made an unexplained 90° turn and headed northeast. ‘This route lead them directly into the midst of a crescent shaped portion of the Red Sea. It appeared that their leader, Moses, had led them directly into a trap! Pharoah was notified of this situation and immediately mustered a large contingent of his army. Pharaoh’s chariots rushed in behind Israel and it appeared there was no way out. The story of their deliverance by God’s power through the cloud and the sea is well known to us all. God had led them to that apparent trap for one reason: to show them and Pharaoh that there is no way out except by God’s power.
The first thing that a candidate for God’s salvation must recognize is that the only way out of the bondage of sin that traps us in this world’s way is through God’s power. We can never do it by ourselves. As soon as a person recognizes this fact, he has taken a giant step toward eternal life.
Chapter 2, Saved by Water
After the miraculous dividing of the waters, Israel was able to cross the sea on dry land leaving the bondage of Egypt behind and proceeding forward into a life under God’s sustaining power. As the waters returned and the Israelites looked back they saw the dead bodies of the Egyptians on the shore of the Red Sea.
The second important step in the life of a saint is baptism. The follower of God leaves the bondage of sin behind, proceeding forward into a life where he is sustained by God’s power. He leaves all of his former sins dead on the shore — washed away by the waters of baptism through the forgiveness granted by God.
Chapter 3, Trial #1—The Golden Calf
While Moses was on the Mount receiving instructions from God, the children of Israel were busy indulging in their own lusts. They took their own wealth, the gold, jewelery, and asked Aaron to make them an idol before which they worshiped, sacrificed, made a great feast drank and rose up to play in a manner that satisfied their basest lusts of the flesh.
Most of us as God’s children are reasonably well off. However, this very prosperity can become our god. We can grow to worship whatever measure of wealth with which God has blessed us. It can take our time, our attention and it can lead to a preoccupation with eating, drinking and playing that can lead us totally away from God. We must be continually aware of this trial. We must realize that everything we have came from God and should be used in his service and not to satisfy our own lusts.
Chapter 4, Trial #2, the Complainers
In Numbers 11:1 Moses writes, “And when the people complained it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard; and His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them.” We are all familiar with those who are chronic complainers. This verse vividly portrays God’s attitude toward them. If we ever find ourselves being a complainer, let us remember this incident and be thankful that God doesn’t deal with us like he dealt with Israel. We are fortunate indeed that we have a mediator that constantly intercedes for us and obtains God’s forbearance.
Chapter 5, Trial #3, Give Us Flesh to Eat
Israel was not content with the food God provided for their sustenance in the wilderness. Even though this “bread from heaven” contained all the nourishment necessary to maintain healthy, vigorous bodies, the people were not content. Similarly God provides us the spiritual food to completely sustain us, but as we look around us at the diversions offered by the world and at the way our neighbors live, we are often not content. We indulge in the fleshly, non-spiritual diversions and methods of relaxation offered by the world. This “flesh to eat” is not necessary for our life in Christ and if indulged in excessively can become ends in themselves, drawing us away from the spiritual food. We must constantly be on guard to resist the temptation to turn to the fleshly pursuits of the world.
Chapter 6, Trial #4, There We Saw Giants
God was prepared to lead Israel into the promised land of Canaan less than three years after leaving Egypt. The leaders of Israel chose twelve trusted men to scout the land to the north. The men spent 40 days traveling the length and breadth of the land observing the cities, the fortifications, the inhabitants, the crops and the weather. Upon returning, they all reported that it was a very fruitful land — “a land flowing with milk and honey.” They had also observed the walled cities and, in some locations, the giant-sized inhabitants. The reaction of 10 of the spies was: “These people are stronger than us; we cannot overcome them.” Notice where they placed the emphasis — “we” cannot overcome them. They left God out of the plan; they had no faith in His power to help them.
Many times in our life we are faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks. If we are not careful we will only see the “giants” as Israel did. We cannot let ourselves fall into the faithless state that Israel experienced. We must remember that God provides us the power to overcome all obstacles. Through our faith in Him, we have a strength to draw from that is far beyond ours. If we remember that the things that we do are being done in the name of the God of Israel, we will receive the same kind of assurance that David did when he went out to slay the giant Goliath.
Chapter 7, Trial #5, Jealousy
In Numbers 12:1 we are informed that Miriam and Aaron were jealous of Moses because God only spoke through him. They wanted equal honor before the people; they wanted God to speak through them also.
Jealousy is an insidious state of mind. Each of us at one time or another has been subjected to its influence. We have found ourselves looking at another person and desiring their talent, recognition or position. The effects of jealousy are then manifest in ways such as criticism, arguing or divisions among brethren. Paul tells us that the root of divisions and strife is envy. Brethren and Sisters, we must be constantly on guard against envy, we cannot let its infection get started in our life. Once it takes root it is so hard to eliminate. God showed his abhorrence of this evil when he struck Miriam with leprosy. Our penalty for unrecognized or unrepented envy would not come as suddenly, but it could be much more final — rejection at the Judgement Seat.
Chapter 8, Trial #6, Censors of Bronze
Some of the leaders in Israel wanted better positions, more honor before their fellow men. The censor was the badge of honor for the priest. It signified that he could offer incense to God for the people. His priestly office and the use of the censer placed him in a very important position between God and His people. The followers of Korah had illegally made themselves bronze censors. They came before Moses and demanded a share in the priestly duties and honor. Moses let God make the decision who should be His priests and bear the censors. The imposters were destroyed in an instant by fires from God.
There are times when we are tempted to gain self recognition and fulfillment by attaining positions of importance in worldly organizations, in business, in the community or at our schools. The lesson taught by God’s judgement on Korah should help us avoid these situations and the attempts to gain honor in worldly pursuits. If we humbly and sincerely make use of the talents that we have in God’s service, He will provide us the recognition that is the most important. What greater honor could anyone seek, than a place of service in His Kingdom on this earth!
Chapter 9, Trial #7, Immorality
Balaam was a prophet used by God to impart His word to the people of that time. Balaam, however, yielded to the temptation to use this power from God to gain great riches by pronouncing God’s evaluation of Israel, for Balak the Moabite king. Much to Balak’s dismay, God’s pronouncement on Israel through the mouth of Balaam was continuing blessing. Balaam was so tempted by Balak’s offer of riches, that he went beyond God’s Word and offered his own evil advice to Balak. He said that evil could be brought upon Israel if they were tempted by the women of Moab and participation in the immoral, fleshly activities associated with their worship of Baal. The insidious plan worked. The men of Israel indulged in the sensuous practices of the Moabite women, even to the extent of openly bringing one into a tent of Israel in plain sight of the tabernacle worshipers.
Today we are subjected to the temptations of immoral practices that appeal to the flesh just as Israel was in ages past. We are constantly bombarded by magazines, T.V., newspapers, movies and the day-to-day actions of our neighbors which tell us to ignore the family institution, engage in premarital sex, live together without being married and many other sensual practices — too many to enumerate. We find ourselves drawn into the way of the world, a way which is rapidly losing any semblance of moral code.
We must constantly be on guard against this influence of the world. Whenever necessary we must take bold, strong decisive actions like Phineas did to keep immorality from taking root in the midst of our families and ecclesias.
Chapter 10, Trial #8, Weakness in Our Leaders
In Numbers 20 we read how the people saw Moses become provoked with their actions. They witnessed, before their eyes, his failure to obey God’s command and later saw the consequences of disobedience.
All our mortal spiritual leaders are subject to the infirmities of human nature. If we follow them long enough—no matter how strong they are — we will see their weaknesses.
We must steel ourselves for these occasions and place all of our faith in God and Christ who cannot fail. We cannot let ourselves place men in positions which rival those of our true leaders.
There are many more chapters in this wonderful parable, but the ones we have cited give us a good cross section of the type of trials we will meet in our lives as saints.
The important point is that through these trials or any trials that we will encounter, God will sustain us. He will give us strength to overcome as he gave it to Israel to overcome Amalek. He will give us guidance both religious and civil. He will provide us with our daily manna—both physical and spiritual. He will provide us the water of life. In short He will provide for every need as we make our way through the trials in the wilderness of life.
In conclusion this parable tells us that trials will come. If we contemplate the examples given us, we will be ready when the same type of trials confront us. By keeping these examples in mind we will know exactly what to do and will be able to lead lives that will take us across Jordan into the Promised Land of eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One