Deuteronomy 11:10-1710For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: 11But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: 12A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. 13And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. 16Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; 17And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. (Deuteronomy 11:10‑17)
IN THESE next few verses the glory of the Lord and the wonderful land He had given to Israel are set before them in the most beautiful language.
"For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:
"But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
"A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year."
It was not a land like Egypt where the overflowing river both watered and fertilized it, where men lived as if they were not dependent upon heaven. There man guided the water with his foot, making it flow wherever he wanted.
But here it was Israel had to work hard, and after sowing their seed they had to water it with their foot, for there is little or no rain in Egypt and it is very hot there. But Canaan, Moses said, is full of hills and valleys, and drinks in the rain from heaven. If you are obedient, Moses says, God will send the rain just at the right time to make your corn and vines to grow, and grass for your cattle. Every bit of the land where your feet tread shall be yours forever.
God had chosen for Israel the better part in that they were in complete dependence upon their faithful Creator's care. It was a land He cared for. His eyes of love and holiness were continually upon it and could not overlook their wants. But this also meant chastening if it was needed.
And so He warns them: "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them: and then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you."
Egypt, in type, is the world in its independence of God. But for us Christians ours is a heavenly land. Canaan is for us "the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1). We are entirely dependent on our heavenly Father for all things, and the more we realize this and look to Him in everything the happier we shall be.
Soon the Lord Jesus shall come and take us to that heavenly land where He Himself has already gone, and we shall dwell with Him there forever. We shall never lose our place and portion in Him, though we may lose the enjoyment of it down here through unfaithfulness or neglect in our walk. May we seek grace to walk in communion with Him down here and then it shall be "as the days of heaven upon earth."
Memory Verse
Messages of the Love of God 2/23/1975