I’ve never really thought about the Israelites and what happened AFTER they crossed the Jordan and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.
We all have a certain mindset about the Promised Land. I’m sure, like most Bible readers, I get bogged down in some of the Old Testament and skim or skip. But with just a few days into our farmhouse adventures, I’m looking more deeply at their story and how it relates to mine.
We just moved five minutes away from our home in a neighborhood to a 10-acre farm. If you had asked me seven years ago if this was my dream, I would have given you a blank stare and probably laughed in your face. But six years ago, God started to water seeds in my heart He had planted long before about this special place He wanted for us {and you.}
During the past five months, we’ve bought the land, burned an existing {gross} home down with the help of the local fire department, and built a modern day farmhouse. We also moved . . . with a two-year-old and my husband who travels extensively with his current job.
But all of this quickly happened after looking for land for three years and trying to sell our house twice.
I’ve learned to wait on God to move. To expect the miracle from His hand. And to recognize attacks from a very real enemy when the promise fulfilled is extremely close.
When the Israelites conquered the first town of the Canaanites, it was only the beginning for them in this new territory. They had entered their promised land from God, but it wasn’t easy street. They were provided for, protected, and walking with God, but the battles actually increased
They continued to obey, fight the enemy, conquer, and move to the next major event AFTER they entered their promised land. And only AFTER God told them to.
The Israelite women must have been exhausted from all the packing and preparing for battle and celebrating victories and praying for their men and unpacking and trying to keep some sort of normalcy in such upheaval. God was on the move with them, but I’m sure it was A LOT to deal with emotionally on a daily basis.
I’m becoming more thankful I get to unpack boxes and settle my family into the spot God has prepared for us and begin working on the vision He has for Bryant Family Farm. I realize this is such a precious gift that many don’t experience — the dream God has for them realized, the real Jesus led adventure.
But crossing over into our promised land has not been an easy one. And it’s only been a month. There are expectations to deal with — from myself and my husband. We have had more than one very hard and ugly conversation since the move. There are new responsibilities added to full plates. We’ve dealt with sickness. The ongoing labor involved in taking care of land and soon-to-be animals is tiring. And, of course, all the unpacking, sorting, and purging.
I’ve realized the best fighting we can do is back-to-back, against a real enemy with God’s Word drawn as a sword. When I’m right in the middle of God’s will for my life, and I know that I know that I know it’s exactly what was planned for me, and then things start to blow up . . . I receive more confirmation we are making the enemy nervous and in the sweet spot of the Holy Spirit’s plan. We are in enemy territory, occupying real land that the Lord wants back.
It’s already been an exciting time for our little family, and we are anxious for God to reveal more of His plans and next steps for Bryant Family Farm. But I know, without His Spirit protecting, guiding, and making us holy through the process, all would have been in vain.
Just like the Israelites, we have to listen and obey the voice of God, following His presence wherever He leads. Don’t fight the battles alone. Those never end well. Let Jesus lead you, fight for you, and give you a little piece of your territory at a time.
Are you living in your promised land? Are you willing to continue to move forward after you’ve crossed over your Jordan River? What does it look like for you after the walls of Jericho have fallen and there are still more battles to be fought?
I know one thing: your promised land is worth fighting for.
“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one . . . May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.”
{2 Thessalonians 3:3-5, NLT}
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