The Land of Canaan

Beloved readers, another year has begun, the year of the Lord 2006. The old year lies behind us with all its cares, sorrows, joys, births, deaths, etc., and the new year is still an unknown for us as men, but not for the Lord. The apostle Peter wrote in his second epistle, chapter 3, verse 8, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” The Lord, as a holy, omniscient God, knows the past, the present, and the future. This new year will also show us the further development of His counsel and decree, in which we all, each and every one, have a place.

In the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy, the name of which means repetition, Moses, the man of God, repeats all the commandments of the Lord and all that took place as the people traveled to the promised land. Their journey began in Egypt and went through the Red Sea and the wilderness. Such a journey is not strange to God’s children, for they also have to journey through that wilderness every day of their life. To all those who may fear the Lord, this world is a howling wilderness, in which they no longer feel at home.

This new year will not differ from the past year with regard to their strife against Satan, the world, and their own flesh; yet they may have a prospect. This prospect is expressed in the words which are written above this meditation. In these words Moses was instructing his people of the great privilege that soon would be given to them. After being forty years on the way, during which all the men older than twenty years had died, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, they were now very close to Canaan, their final destination. Our young readers will readily know why only Joshua and Caleb were still living. It was because they were not involved in the rebellion and unbelief of the people when the spies returned after surveying the promised land. Only these two of the twelve spies had given a good report and would enter into Canaan. We know also why Moses and Aaron could not enter Canaan, since that is explained for us in Numbers 20:12 and Deuteronomy 3:23-27.

Moses gives us a description of the land flowing with milk and honey which had been promised to Abraham and his seed many years before. The land is compared with Egypt, from whence they had come. That land, flat as it was, was watered by their foot, by a treadmill, for irrigation. They had an ingenious system to bring the water of the Nile, the longest river on earth, onto the land, as indicated in verse 10. Notice then in verse 11 the word “but,” a conjunction of contradiction. What is the contradiction being made? Why would this irrigation system not be feasible in the land they went to possess? It is because the land had hills and valleys, and it drank water of the rain of heaven.

It was said to them in verse 12 that it was “a land which the Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” Further in this chapter we read when the Lord would send rain and when He would not. Therefore what do we see regarding this land? It is that there would be a total dependence upon the Lord. They would not be able to do what was necessary for the growth of what they planted, but they would live a life close to the Lord, being pilgrims on this earth, doing His will, and walking in His ways. “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them” (verse 16). We also read further of all the things promised to them if they would observe that which was commanded them.

Now, dear readers, at the beginning of this new year the question is to what land we are going. For the soul quickened by the Lord, the land flowing with milk and honey signifies heaven, and nothing less. It is the land which the Lord God careth for, the place where He wants to have His chosen ones with Him to all eternity (John 17:24). They must learn, however, also in this new year, that the way to that land is the way of faith alone. Their own inventions will not help them one step along the way, but they must live in dependence upon the Lord, with the understanding that His eyes are always upon that land. This means that at no time during the new year will He sleep or slumber, that He may watch over and protect His church, bringing them further with the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit from Sabbath day to Sabbath day, and dealing with them through the ways of His own institutions.

As the land promised to them is characterized as drinking “water of the rain of heaven,” so also will their thirsty souls be watered by the opening of heaven in a spiritual way. It is as Isaiah said, “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it” (Isaiah 45:8). In this new year may God’s servants open their mouths to proclaim Him as the Fountain of life to fill hungry and thirsty souls, to see the confirmation and re-confirmation of His promises to His children, bringing them through all the tribulations to the haven of their desire (Psalm 107:30).

“For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out.” The travelers to Zion should not forget the place from which they came, namely, Egypt, the house of bondage, where they served as the slaves of a hard master. They would still have been there if it had not pleased the Lord to lead them out. We read many times in the Old Testament that the Lord reminded Israel that it was He who led them out of Egypt. They were not to forget that their journey began with the wonder of the tenth plague (after nine plagues had preceded it), with the blood of the paschal lamb, foreshadowing the intercession of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Further leading was also necessary, for the journey must continue, and so it is in this new year. He must be for His people the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and this will remain a wonder till the very end.

When it says that the eyes of the Lord are always upon that land from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year, it means that He will not change. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20); “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6).

For whom of God's children or servants will this year be the year of their release, then to be brought into that land where no inhabitant will say, “I am sick"? For Israel to come into the land of Canaan, they had to pass the river Jordan. Moses never did so, for we read about his death in the land of Moab and that the Lord Himself buried him. God's Word tells us, “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the L O R D knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10). But, people of the Lord, chosen ones bought by the blood of Christ and redeemed ones on the foundation of justice and truth, you, too, will receive that seeing of the Lord face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Therefore be of good cheer: the Lord will bring you there just as certainly as He brought His Israel through the river Jordan into the promised land.

May this year be used in our denomination, and also on the mission field, for the conversion of sinners to the living God. To that end may the number of laborers increase, by the sending of one or more to be instructed in the way of the means for that holy office of preaching the Word of God. May it please the Lord to grant His undeserved blessings to our schools for the spiritual welfare of our students and teachers by the necessary working of the Holy Spirit, so that many of our young people may this year present themselves in the congregations by making confession of faith. May a bond of unity unite us together on the basis of the truth and be visible in the fruits of love and humiliation, all to the honor of the Lord. So be it.

— Rev. G. M. de Leeuw
(Rock Valley, Iowa)

The Almighty Lord

I know that the Lord is almighty,
Supreme in dominion is He,
Performing His will and good pleasure
In heav’n and in earth and the sea.

His hand guides the clouds in their courses,
The lightning flames forth at His will,
The wind and the rain He releases
His sov’reign designs to fulfill.

To ransom His people from bondage
Great wonders and signs He displayed;
He smote all the firstborn of Egypt,
Till Pharaoh made haste and obeyed.

Great nations and kings that opposed Him
Were smitten by God’s mighty hand;
Their riches He gave to His people,
And made them inherit the land.

Thy Name shall abide, O Jehovah,
Through all generations renowned;
The Lord is the judge of His people,
His mercies forever abound.

— Psalter 373:3-7

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