Milk And Honey?

Over Easter weekend, I excitedly sat in my living room and watched the classic movie The 10 Commandments, it’s the first time I had watched it since I was in middle school. But, given this season of testing and social distancing it seemed appropriate.

There are many similarities between Israel’s captivity in Egypt in the church’s placement in the world today. Plagues and famine have invaded the world once again. God’s people must again choose between obeying His law or the ways of the world (Joshua 24:15.) Who you Goin’ be?

Many who walked away from the faith have returned to God. Time will tell if we truly trust in God or man. As I watched the classic call to our faith, I noticed the use of the phrase, “Milk and honey.” Yes, it was one of the ancient promises of God to His people.

But, throughout the millennium, God’s promises have been twisted and perverted by our sinful nature, our expectations and what we desire from God. God’s favor does not guarantee, fame or finances, health or greatness; they aren’t coming in hot! The Promise land was a miracle of God in many ways.

The term milk and honey is more of an agricultural term than a declaration of prominence. Remember, Israel was a nation of shepherds and farmers. A land flowing with milk meant the land would support their livestock. Honey meant there would be flowers and vegetation to support bees.

Milk and honey were basic commodities in the ancient world; they were needs. I hope with this recent pandemic we understand more what it means to have our needs met. Time and testing will strip our carnal desire for over-the-top, abundant lifestyles. Does God really promise us an abundant life here, yes and no!

ABUNDANCE?

Abundant means, “Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful;” The Hebrew equivalent, śābēaʿ also means to be satisfied; God promised Israel’s needs would be met and they’d be satisfied (Psalm 34:10)—Paradise restored.

We all understand that when we are full after a good meal, we are satisfied. But, if we gorge ourselves and consume more than we need; satisfaction turns to shame and laziness. In our Heavenly Father’s wisdom, we see that greed and gluttony aren’t good—nor is getting everything we crave.

The first Adam wanted more than God had given and his seed is sin; the second Adam, Jesus, came to give and love to give us an abundant life in Heaven and draw us closer to God as well as meeting our needs on earth (1 Corinthians 15:47.)

As the nation is shutdown to cope with the pandemic, everyone is searching for ways to have their basic needs met. Why wait? If we, the church, are to lead by example and let our light shine, now is the time for us to lean into an awesome God.

I know many states are in a rush to reopen, but we must learn to wait on God’s timing and trust His provision during this season. As I write this, the state where I live (Georgia) has already opened most of its businesses despite Covid-19 cases being on the rise, many people believe “you can’t stop me.”

“We can’t let our desires for pleasure and comforts supersede our safety, this world’s constant lust for pleasure will be its ultimate end. This is why I thank God this world isn’t our home, like the early church and the nation of Israel we are just foreigners passing through a decaying planet, that is real the reason for climate change.

Strangers?

While Israel was enslaved to Egypt, they were well aware that they weren’t home and yet they desired comfort, greatness and more. The Perfect One had to free them from bondage and armies to give them what He had promised.

These foreigners were led through the wilderness and tested before receiving God’s best, during those 40 years a whole generation and even the legend Moses, died without ever receiving what God had for His people.

There is a lesson here for the church today, stop doing what the world does and turn from your selfish desires. We are called to be different, the early Apostles described us as foreigners and aliens (Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11.)

The more we conform to the image of Jesus the less we will fit in and look like the rest of this world. Instead of trying to be great in this broken world, we should be humbling ourselves and sharing God’s truth with it.

But then again, the apostles warned us that in the last days the church would turn away from sound teaching and only listen to the things they want to hear; false promises of earthly greatness(2 Timothy 4:3.)

When Jesus promised us an abundant life, He used the Hebrew word for satisfaction, śābēa. The longer I’m alive, the less satisfied I in this world. Even when I receive things I have hoped for. Only God can light up my world.

Before Jesus left, He instructed the early church to strive for treasures in heaven, not here (Matthew 6:20.) God’s plans are greater than we can imagine, He sees the bigger picture of the abundance of heaven.

God will test our hearts through trials and diseases like He did with the nation of Israel before they entered a land flowing with milk and honey.