Entering the Land

This morning I was struck by this passage in Deuteronomy 32:52 (a book I like to think of as Due to Honor Me):

Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel. (KJV)

Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.” (NIV)

Despite all that Moses did for the Israelites and the Lord, as a result of his rebellion at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert at Zin, he was able to see Canaan, but could not enter it.  God tells Moses that he did not show Him proper respect among the Israelites.

If we look earlier in Numbers 14:30, the Lord tells the Israelites:

Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. (NIV)

When the Lord is talking about the false prophets of Israel, he says in Ezekiel 13:9:

They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. (NIV)

And in Ezekiel 20:38:

I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 

Many people believe that the Bible is full of random stories, but I believe the Lord orchestrated the writing of His Word so that we would see His patterns and types.  In his book, “The Kingdom,” author Jim Harmon writes that believers whose works do not stand the test of fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ will suffer loss.  As a result, they will be able to see the Millennial Kingdom during Christ’s one-thousand-year reign when He returns to earth, but they will not be able to enter it.*

Much like Moses was able to see Canaan, but was not allowed to enter it.

*This is not to be confused with the free gift of eternal life — which all believers receive when they believe in Jesus Christ — a gift that is not based on works and can never be lost or taken away.