June 3rd, 2021
by Robert Presson
by Robert Presson
“The LORD your God will fight for you” — Deuteronomy 3:22
This verse was written to Israel as they were about to enter into the Promised Land — to take possession of everything God said they could have.
Many people have seen the Promised Land as a picture of heaven. We toil and strive in this life and then enter into our promised rest — eternity with God in heaven. While the promise of heaven is important to keep at the forefront of our minds (see Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18), the Promised Land in the Old Testament is not a picture of heaven — it’s a picture of the abundant life that Jesus offers in the here and now. It’s a picture of fullness of life in Jesus Christ, of a blessed life, a life of victory and power and spiritual fullness in the here and now. Living in the “Promised Land” is all about a life of faith — of living in intimacy with God and walking in your calling. It’s not about what happens after you die — it’s about fulfilling your destiny before you die!
There’s only one way to walk with God, and that’s by faith. Those of us who are walking with God are in the process of inheriting our own “Promised Land” in this life.
When you read the Old Testament, there are several different names for God in the original Hebrew writings. There are three primary names: Elohim, Adonai, and Yahweh. When you see the word Lord rendered in all-caps (“LORD”) in the Old Testament, it indicates that the name being used is Yahweh. Why is this an important distinction? Because Yahweh is the covenant name of God.
But what does it even mean that God is a covenant-keeping God? Here’s what it means:
When you enter into covenant with God, it means that God moves from being “God” to being “your God.” God is for you.
For those of us in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, God has made a decision to be for us. That means that He fights our battles for us. Anything that comes against us in this life, God treats it like it’s coming against Him. He is not just a distant being in heaven. He is Yahweh — our Provider, our Presence, our Peace, our Banner, our Righteousness.
Think about it as it relates to marriage (which is also described in the Bible as a “covenant”). If someone comes against my wife, they are coming against me. And trust me, I will treat whatever is coming against her like it’s coming against me personally! I will fight for her.
I don’t know what battle you’re fighting today, but I know you’re not fighting alone. God, the Almighty, all-powerful, covenant God, fights your battles for you as you walk with Him by faith.
This verse was written to Israel as they were about to enter into the Promised Land — to take possession of everything God said they could have.
Many people have seen the Promised Land as a picture of heaven. We toil and strive in this life and then enter into our promised rest — eternity with God in heaven. While the promise of heaven is important to keep at the forefront of our minds (see Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18), the Promised Land in the Old Testament is not a picture of heaven — it’s a picture of the abundant life that Jesus offers in the here and now. It’s a picture of fullness of life in Jesus Christ, of a blessed life, a life of victory and power and spiritual fullness in the here and now. Living in the “Promised Land” is all about a life of faith — of living in intimacy with God and walking in your calling. It’s not about what happens after you die — it’s about fulfilling your destiny before you die!
There’s only one way to walk with God, and that’s by faith. Those of us who are walking with God are in the process of inheriting our own “Promised Land” in this life.
When you read the Old Testament, there are several different names for God in the original Hebrew writings. There are three primary names: Elohim, Adonai, and Yahweh. When you see the word Lord rendered in all-caps (“LORD”) in the Old Testament, it indicates that the name being used is Yahweh. Why is this an important distinction? Because Yahweh is the covenant name of God.
But what does it even mean that God is a covenant-keeping God? Here’s what it means:
When you enter into covenant with God, it means that God moves from being “God” to being “your God.” God is for you.
For those of us in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, God has made a decision to be for us. That means that He fights our battles for us. Anything that comes against us in this life, God treats it like it’s coming against Him. He is not just a distant being in heaven. He is Yahweh — our Provider, our Presence, our Peace, our Banner, our Righteousness.
Think about it as it relates to marriage (which is also described in the Bible as a “covenant”). If someone comes against my wife, they are coming against me. And trust me, I will treat whatever is coming against her like it’s coming against me personally! I will fight for her.
I don’t know what battle you’re fighting today, but I know you’re not fighting alone. God, the Almighty, all-powerful, covenant God, fights your battles for you as you walk with Him by faith.
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