Numbers 33:50-56 – “The Lord spoke to Moses in the rift valley plains of Moab along the Jordan, across from Jericho. He said: ⁵¹ “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ⁵² you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, and demolish their high places. ⁵³ You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it. ⁵⁴ You must divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families. To a larger group you must give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you must give a smaller inheritance. Everyone’s inheritance must be in the place where his lot falls. You must inherit according to your ancestral tribes. ⁵⁵ But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you allow to remain will be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your side, and will cause you trouble in the land where you will be living. ⁵⁶ And what I intended to do to them I will do to you.’”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was reminded of the process of possessing the promise.  In Numbers 33:51-53, God gave Moses specific instructions regarding Canaan – Their Place of Promise!  Their Inheritance.

He gave 4 directives: drive out, cleanse, dispossess, and possess.  Each is essential. In verse 53, He said, “You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it.”

Remember this: God’s Promises are often, if not always, occupied territory. What is it that hinders us from being who God wants us to be?  Is it pride, anger, jealousy, lust, covetousness, spiritual apathy, longings of the flesh, prayerlessness, or something else?  Those enemies must be dispossessed before we can become or manifest what we are to be.

Galatians 3:27-29 reveals a pathway to victory.   Baptized into Christ – do make that about water, but relationship.  Baptism is a type of death, burial, and resurrection.  We then clothe ourselves with Christ. We yield our entire being to Him.   Galatians 5:16-21 gives an answer to becoming.   

Living under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to resist the desires of the flesh. We can control our thoughts and actions! We become more than conquerors!

Galatians 6:7-10 is a powerful encouragement. Keep doing what is right, even when the flesh is throwing a hissy fit, and eventually it will pay off. Galatians 6:14-15 is the key.  Through the Cross, we are crucified to the world. We are New Creations with a new spiritual DNA and a clean slate. No past, only a new future!

Make it your purpose to drive out, cleanse, dispossess, and possess God’s Promise(s). It is your heritage, but it requires your commitment and involvement.

LORD, help us learn to dispossess so we can possess Your Promises!