Last time in Why Christ Had to Die, we saw the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness. Today, we’re going to see that part of God’s provision is His wisdom in letting out just enough rope to ensure our protection and fruitfulness.
“The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.”
Deuteronomy 7:22
Once again, Moses is speaking to the 2nd generation of liberated Israelite slaves. Their former life was one of subjugation to the Egyptians and subjugation to wilderness wandering; but now they’re on the verge of a new life. This life is one that is not without challenges or struggles. No, no, there are battles to be fought, lands to be conquered, and people to be set aside. But God is not going to just clear their way completely. It almost seems counter-intuitive to the plan of a promised land. Why wouldn’t the people of God have the land all at once? Why wouldn’t they–if they were promised a land flowing with milk and honey–have it to its fullest extent the moment they enter? The reason is simple…they’re not ready. This is not to say that God couldn’t protect them from the wild beasts or dangers that lie within. Instead, it’s saying that His protection is wrapped up in His limitation and an opportunity for faithfulness and growth.
And, this isn’t the first time God had spoken these words to His people. You see, the parents of this generation had previously heard this…
“I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land.”
Exodus 23:29-30
Tucked away in the middle of God’s promise to His people is His limitation. Should the people of God have the promised land all it once, they couldn’t maintain it nor be fruitful. And this is yet another reason Why Christ Had To Die. The Israelites would go into the land, they would be wooed by the wiles of the land, they would follow after the gods of land, and would ultimately be exiled from the land. They weren’t fruitful despite God’s continual provision, and neither are we.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
First, part of God’s provision is His limiting. The principle for not giving the Israelites the land all at once is they couldn’t have managed it all at once. Now, let’s make an application from this principle. How many times do we want to have more responsibility, more authority, more control, more influence, more say, or more whatever, which means we’re not content with our current responsibilities, etc.? More than anyone can count. What if the principle of faithfulness with a little before faithfulness with a lot was in order in our lives? What if we saw our limitations to power, influence, authority, etc. as God’s provision and our opportunity to not peak too soon and to be faithful where we are?
Second, God desires our faithfulness and not our expansion. The first man and woman had to be faithful with their first garden–Eden–before they could expand and fulfill God’s command to populate and fill the earth. Their task was simple, but it was not easy. Be faithful in the Garden of Eden–which meant not eating from one tree–but they couldn’t. Which is why we need the faithfulness of Christ to be not only our guide, but our power. Thank the Lord He didn’t leave us alone, but instead sent the Spirit to fill us, empower us, and guide us to obedience and faithfulness.
Third, the task of faithfulness is impossible for a mere human. To be faithful is just too hard. There are too many distractions and doubts. Too much struggle. Too much fear. Too much anxiety. Too much success. Too much lust. Too much gossip and slander. Too much envy and pride. Too much apathy and laziness. It’s just too hard for any human to remain faithful. And that’s exactly why Christ had to be faithful for us. If Christ didn’t come, we wouldn’t have hope. If He wasn’t faithful, if He wasn’t overrun by the wild beasts, if He wasn’t unstoppable in His mission to die in our place to take the penalty for our sin, then we would have no hope of ever being faithful. But He did, and so we can be faithful. But, you have to come under His authority. You have to be bent low. You do this through faith in His finished work on your behalf. He doesn’t wait for you to be as faithful as you can, and then He saves you. No, no. You come to Christ just as you are–unfaithful and without hope. You find Him in your need. You find Him in faith.
May we walk in faithfulness, because we have our faith and trust in the One–Christ–who was faithful on our behalf. Glory!
— August 24, 2018