FROM THE BEGINNING -- Monday:
"For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year." (Deut 11:10-12)
The land of Canaan was, and remains, a unique land. It is the only piece of real estate on the face of the earth that God calls "My land" (2 Chron 7:20; Isa 14:25; Jer 2:7; 16:18; Ezek 36:5; 38:16; Joel 1:6; 3:2). There is no word in Scripture that suggests God has changed His mind about this land. God refers to this land as "the Sanctuary" (Ex 15:17), "the land of Israel" (1 Sam 13:19), "the land of the Jews" (Acts 10:39), "the land of promise" (Heb 11:9), "the holy land" (Zech 2:12), "the Lord's land" (Hos 9:3), "Immanuel's" land (Isa 8:8), and "Beulah" (Isa 62:4).
In our text, the Lord declared the land to which he led Israel was a different kind of land. It was "not like the land of Egypt" from which they were delivered. That land was not watered by rain, which scarcely fell in Egypt. Instead irrigation was accomplished by using the waters of the Nile, digging trenches to divert some of its waters to their "vegetable gardens." Thus, the NIV reads, "where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot [i.e., digging trenches] as in a vegetable garden."
The land of promise, however, would be watered by "the rain of heaven," pouring down upon it in an open display of Divine interest. God cared for Canaan, and thus "caused it to rain" upon the land. This was an intentional display of Divine discretion, and was not to be perceived as mere happenstance. How marvelously Amos spoke of this kind of blessing when God moved Him to write, "I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered" (Amos 4:7). Indeed, the promised land was a land for which the Lord cared!
The very words are difficult for academic masters to receive. They cannot imagine God Almighty being interested in a land, or sending His unparalleled blessing upon it. Yet, here, in Canaan, is a land of which it is said, "the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it." NKJV He took note of times when it was "defiled" (Jer 2:7; 16:18). He knew when it had been invaded by enemies (Isa 14:25). His wrath rose up when the heathen "with glee and with malice in their hearts . . . made [His] land their own possession" NIV (Ezek 36:5). Ezekiel foretold a time when a fierce people would "come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land." Opening His own involvement in this occasion, the Lord said, "It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes" (Ezek 38:16). Whatever one chooses to think about this prophecy, it reveals the extent to which God has identified Himself with that land.
The Lord goes even further in declaring His interest in Canaan -- His land. His eyes were "continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." NIV No part of the year found the Lord's interest in the land waning. The year began with the eyes of the Lord upon it, and it concluded in His vision and with His care. He would see to it that rain fell upon it. Because of this, it was "a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out whose hills you can dig copper" (Deut 8:7-9). It was not a good and prosperous land because of natural advantages, but because of blessings from God.
Of what benefit is it to note these things? Much, indeed! If God so blesses a parcel of land, what will He do for those who bear His image, and have received His Son? Are not His eyes "upon the righteous?" And are not His ears "open to their cry?" (Psa 34:15). Are not the children of God told, "He cares for you" (1 Pet 5:7). Is He not "for us," and not against us (Rom 8:31)? Is there a moment from the beginning of the year until the end of the year when the Lord does not direct the path of those who The land of Canaan was, and remains, a unique land. It is the only piece of real estate on the face of the earth that God calls "My land" (2 Chron 7:20; Isa 14:25; Jer 2:7; 16:18; Ezek 36:5; 38:16; Joel 1:6; 3:2). There is no word in Scripture that suggests God has changed His mind about this land. God refers to this land as "the Sanctuary" (Ex 15:17), "the land of Israel" (1 Sam 13:19), "the land of the Jews" (Acts 10:39), "the land of promise" (Heb 11:9), "the holy land" (Zech 2:12), "the Lord's land" (Hos 9:3), "Immanuel's" land (Isa 8:8), and "Beulah" (Isa 62:4).
In our text, the Lord declared the land to which he led Israel was a different kind of land. It was "not like the land of Egypt" from which they were delivered. That land was not watered by rain, which scarcely fell in Egypt. Instead irrigation was accomplished by using the waters of the Nile, digging trenches to divert some of its waters to their "vegetable gardens." Thus, the NIV reads, "where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot [i.e., digging trenches] as in a vegetable garden."
The land of promise, however, would be watered by "the rain of heaven," pouring down upon it in an open display of Divine interest. God cared for Canaan, and thus "caused it to rain" upon the land. This was an intentional display of Divine discretion, and was not to be perceived as mere happenstance. How marvelously Amos spoke of this kind of blessing when God moved Him to write, "I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered" (Amos 4:7). Indeed, the promised land was a land for which the Lord cared!
The very words are difficult for academic masters to receive. They cannot imagine God Almighty being interested in a land, or sending His unparalleled blessing upon it. Yet, here, in Canaan, is a land of which it is said, "the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it" (NKJV). He took note of times when it was "defiled" (Jer 2:7; 16:18). He knew when it had been invaded by enemies (Isa 14:25). His wrath rose up when the heathen "with glee and with malice in their hearts . . . made [His] land their own possession" (Ezek 36:5, NIV). Ezekiel foretold a time when a fierce people would "come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land." Opening His own involvement in this occasion, the Lord said, "It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes" (Ezek 38:16). Whatever one chooses to think about this prophecy, it reveals the extent to which God has identified Himself with that land.
The Lord goes even further in declaring His interest in Canaan – His land. His eyes were "continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end" (NIV). No part of the year found the Lord's interest in the land waning. The year began with the eyes of the Lord upon it, and it concluded in His vision and with His care. He would see to it that rain fell upon it. Because of this, it was "a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out whose hills you can dig copper" (Deut 8:7-9). It was not a good and prosperous land because of natural advantages, but because of blessings from God.
Of what benefit is it to note these things? Much, indeed! If God so blesses a parcel of land, what will He do for those who bear His image, and have received His Son? Are not His eyes "upon the righteous?" And are not His ears "open to their cry?" (Psa 34:15). Are not the children of God told, "He cares for you" (1 Pet 5:7). Is He not "for us," and not against us (Rom 8:31)? Is there a moment from the beginning of the year until the end of the year when the Lord does not direct the path of those who trust in Him with all of their heart, not leaning to their own understanding (Prov 3:5-6)? The Lord Jesus promised those who were involved in His work, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt 28:20). And, what are the final words in all of the Bible? What marvelous message punctuates the Revelation of God? "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (Rev 22:21)!
If you are ever tempted to despair, or to imagine you have been forsaken by God, remember the land of Canaan! Ponder how God spoke of it, and how He identified Himself with it – how He called it His own. Then consider how even greater honors and blessings have been conferred upon you in Christ Jesus – from the beginning of the year, even to its end! Those in Christ Jesus are in an even more enviable position than Canaan!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your gracious attentiveness to Your people.