I am the true vine - by Bec Bonython
I am the true vine.
In Numbers 13 and 14, the Children come to the Desert of Paran. Here God asks them to explore the Promise Land. 12 spies were sent out and returned, carrying a large single cluster of grapes between the 2 of them on a pole! (Just picture that!)
The spies reported of the abundance of the land, a land which was fertile and rich – truly flowing with milk and honey. But they were fearful because the Canaanites looked so powerful and mighty, and their cities too strong to conqueror. Only Joshua and Caleb stood up and had the faith to say they could take the land. It demanded a fight, but they could do it with God’s help.
Rumours spread around the camp about what the Promise Land looked like, and fear and anxiety set in. Then the people rebelled. They said why has the Lord done this to us? He must hate us. Their hearts were hard, and because of their rebellion, God got angry!
Moses mediates, and God forgives them but tells them that those who saw His glory in Egypt and in the desert will never enter the promise land. Only Joshua and Caleb. Out of 2,000,000 people who left Egypt, only 2 get to go into the Promise Land.
It was right at this moment where the Children missed their opportunity to enter into all that God had for them. They were right there!
· But their lack of deep relationship with the Lord caused them to stay in the wilderness and go around the same mountain again and again for another 38 years!
· Their fears, feelings of inadequacy, complacency and lack of trust got the better of them.
· They didn’t want to fight and stand up for what was rightfully theirs.
· They failed to see that God had their best interest in mind.
· They failed to see that even though there was going to be a battle, that the battle had already been won! They just needed to be strong and courageous.
Instead, they lived in Kadesh-Barnea for the next 38 years in mediocracy. They never achieved the freedom of kingdom living. How sad is that!
Jesus says in John 15:1 "I am the true vine." Jesus says "remain in me." Be entwined and tangled into me. Let us become one.
It takes courage to live your life in deep relationship with God. The battles you’ll fight and the unconventional means by which the Lord may ask you to fight them will require a firm commitment to be obedient to God.
Kingdom living requires trust and faith in the Vine. It will require us to be strong and courageous. And we can’t allow fear to creep in. We must receive nourishment from the true source to sustain us and ensure we remain on course. As we do this, we will bear much fruit. We will flourish. We will experience kingdom living, the Promise Land, as Jesus works in and through us.
All for His name – that He may be glorified.