Page 69 - Overcoming Addiction

Chapter 10 - Faith Seals the Victory

he history of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan is well known to most
TChristians, as it comprises a major portion of the books of Moses, the first five
books of the Bible. Yahweh promised the Israelites that He would lead them forth
to a land flowing with milk and honey which He would give to them and to their
children as a possession. He told them they would need to drive out the
inhabitants of the land of Canaan, but He would be with them and He would fight
for them.
Those familiar with the history of Israel know that the generation which
came out of Egypt failed to enter into their possession. All those above the age of
twenty who came out of Egypt died in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua.
This generation spent forty years wandering around in wilderness places, until
their generation had passed away. The reason for their inability to enter the land
of Canaan and establish the kingdom of God was unbelief.
It is ever God’s design that those who are called out of the world as His
children should proceed quickly to begin a conquest of the land of their flesh.
Many Christians, however, mirror the historical account of Israel. Even after it has
been many years since God first called them, they have made no progress in
subduing the land of their flesh. A great number of Christians spend their entire
lives wandering in a barren wilderness where there is no fruit from their lives that
comes forth for the glory of God. They are still ruled by the sin in their flesh, and
the kingdom of God has not been established in them in righteousness and peace.
The reasons for Christians failing to take possession of the land of their flesh
are the same today as they were for the Israelites 3,500 years ago. Chapter eight
focused upon the need to lay aside the diet of the world and begin feeding on the
Bread of Heaven. It is only as we do this that our faith is built up and our spiritual
strength is increased. We know the Israelites despised the food God sent them and
demanded flesh to eat. Therefore they were unprepared when it was time to go
forth in battle and take possession of the land. In the same way, if we are not
feeding on the Word of God we will be ill equipped for the spiritual warfare to
which we have been called.
It was only a relatively short time that God would have kept the Israelites in
the wilderness. Yahweh would have led the Israelites very quickly from the
receiving of the Law into the conquest of the land of Canaan, but their
disobedience kept delaying things. God would also lead us very quickly from
receiving His Spirit to a conquest of the sin that dwells in our flesh. Yet, like Israel,
we can delay our victory over all the enemies that reside in our flesh. By despising
the Bread of Heaven, through idolatry (loving the world and the things in it), and
by rebellion against God’s authority, we can delay that which God would have us
to perform quickly.
When the Israelites finally arrived at the border of the land of promise,
Moses sent forth twelve men to spy out the land and bring back a report. These
twelve men spent forty days walking across the length and breadth of Canaan.
They saw an exceptionally good land. It was fertile and well watered. There were
vineyards and farms and orchards already planted. It was something to be greatly
desired, and it held forth the promise of a magnificent dream come true for those