Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 1:34-40.

“Then the LORD heard the sound of your words, and He was angry and took an oath, saying, ‘Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh;  he shall see it, and to him and to his sons I will give the land on which he has set foot, because he has followed the LORD fully.’  The LORD was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there.  Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there;  encourage him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it.  Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it.  But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.’”  Deuteronomy 1:34-40.  

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This Scripture is sad, but there is still hope.

And, like those who were stuck in the wilderness, we may feel like we are stuck in a wilderness.  But, there is hope for us too!

First, the children would be allowed to enter and possess the Promised Land.  “Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it.”  Verse 39.  

Second, even in the wilderness, God is with us.  “and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.’”  Deuteronomy 1:31. 

“Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my LORD;
I have no good besides You.” Psalm 16:1-2.

“You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11.

Third, as good as Canaan, the earthly Promised Land was, or as good as we may have it on earth, our goal is heaven.  We are aliens, only sojourners passing through earth, and we live by faith like Abraham.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;  and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  Hebrews 11:8-10.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.