Isaiah 1: 19  KJV

‘if you be willing and obedient  you shall eat the good of the land , but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured’

• DAILY READING Acts 1; Deuteronomy 11-12; Job 9

Oil is the biggest source of power generation in the world. It has been one of the most massively produced, consumed, and traded commodity for many years. It is like oxygen in the lifeblood of the world economy.  Oil powers over 99% of all the transportation in the world. Its  production and consumption have been influential factors in the rise or fall of many nations. The middle east controls a sizeable  percentage of oil in the world, in this region alone is found four of the top eight oil-producing countries.

In the old testament God laid out the boundaries of the land He originally gave His people. Looking at the map in modern times, it is an area far bigger than what the modern nation of Israel is occupying today.  And parts of it are rich in oil deposits. But due to disobedience and being cast out of the land through God’s wrath, Israel is not in full possession of its allotted inheritance today.

In fact ironically, the land being occupied by Israel today seems to be the only patch of land in the middle east that is not oil rich. While its Arab neighbors revel in oil wealth, Israel has had to look to other source to boost its economy; such as Agriculture, armament  and technology.

Certain Bible verses hint at the oil reserve in the land God originally promised Israel. Jacob, speaking in Gen 49:22 ,he says Concerning his son Joseph, ’The Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath [Genesis 49:22, 25- 26]. Another prophecy by Moses over Asher whose land adjoins Joseph’s, says ‘Asher is most blessed of sons; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil [Deut. 33:24.] Some Bible scholars believe this refers to oil beneath the ground.

Had Israel been fully obedient they would have possessed oil rich lands today; a land flowing with milk and honey as God promised. Disobedience can be costly.

However God in His mercy has made available other sources of income, so that relatively the Israeli economy is not doing badly. And as finding oil has become a major agenda in Israel, perhaps someday too, oil will be discovered. The point is; God knew there was great oil deposit in the land when He gave the original map to Israel. He had the future all planned out for His people and though He wasn’t giving the full picture, they just had to trust Him.

God says in Jeremiah 29, that He knows the thoughts He thinks towards us, thoughts of good to give us an expected end. When God makes promises we don’t have to really see it all before we become obedient. We have to trust that He knows the end from the beginning and is indeed leading us into a good land. Walking initially on the path of God’s will it may look like things are not working, but in the end we will find it is the best path to have followed. It is a matter of trust. God has good plans for us, He has good thoughts for us, all we have to be is obedient as He leads us on the path of life.

Psalms 16:11   says ‘Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’

There is a path God has ordained before us. It is a good path, filled with all that we require to excel in life. If we are willing  and obedient we shall eat the good of this land. The laws of God laid out in the scriptures are for our long term benefits. His commandments are not grievous, they are for our good. Perhaps Mary preached the greatest Gospel in John 2:5, when she said ‘whatsoever He says unto you, do it’.

Whatever God says we are simply to obey. Whenever we are confronted  by a fork in the road,  let us always go the way of God’s commandment.  The Holy Spirit will always lead us in line with The Word of God. In psalm 19, we are told there is great reward in keeping His Word.

Let us therefore decide today to obey every Word of God so that we can enjoy the reward of obedience. Let us follow the leadings of The Holy Spirit as He guides into the fullness of God’s plan. Let us be determined not to miss our portion, but to experience the fullness of the blessings. We will not dwell in a corner of our promised land but will possess the full  inheritance. We will not miss out through disobedience or partial obedience but will follow God fully to take spossession of  what has been promised us, a land flowing with milk and honey as mapped out for us by God. .

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for guiding me in your perfect will today, please help me to obey every of your commandment so that I can access the fullness of the inheritance you have mapped out for me. May I never miss or forfeit any allotted portion of my inheritance in Christ, in Jesus Name. .  

quote

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]