"What's in the Package?"

Scripture Passage

Numbers 34:1-36:13

Scripture Focus

[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, [2] “Give these instructions to the Israelites: When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your special possession, these will be the boundaries.
[12]… These are the boundaries of your land.” (Numbers 34:1-2,12 NLT)

Observation

Israel must’ve felt like a kid at Christmastime! You remember what that’s like, don’t you? Snooping through the packages under the tree, finding any that had your name on ‘em, examining carefully the size and shape of the parcel—maybe even shaking the box to see what kind of noise it made—all part of the investigation of what was *yours*…though you hadn’t unwrapped it yet.

(I know what some of you are thinking. “Why, when I was a kid, we didn’t have packages under the tree. I got an orange—and maybe a pair of socks—but only in a good year!” Okay—I hear you. But for now, just play along compliantly with the rest of us, will you?)

Israel, on the borders of Canaan, had God describe for them the gift they were about to receive. They still had to take it, unwrap it, and “put it together”—but it was theirs for the receiving. A land all their own—a land promised by God…”flowing with milk and honey”! That must have been about as sweet and appealing a description as Israel could have imagined.

And so it is for me. I’ve been promised, by God, a “land” like no other. I’ve been blessed “…in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:3 NIV). I am “…receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Heb 12:28 NIV). Now, my opportunity is to “press on take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me” (Phil 3:12 NIV).

It’s His gift…but mine to unwrap and possess.