OUR PROMISED LAND
On 5 December 2025, LE, the Café owner, notified us that they had to vacate to another location. She also informed us to look for another meeting place.
The relocation has always been on our minds (prayer & fasting) since a meeting place is important to us. We want to ensure we have a meeting place prepared for us when an existing one is unavailable due to lease expiration or unforeseen circumstances. We thank those who have been keeping this matter in prayer with us.
Hence, we can trust that what the Lord has provided for us is where HE wants us to be.
At the same time, the Lord has led me to read Numbers Chapter 32. The link is here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers%2032&version=NKJV
Summaries of the chapter:
Moses was about to lead the Israelites to conquer Canaan, the promised land, which God had given to them as an inheritance. By then, they had already conquered some lands on the East side of Canaan, such as Debon, Jazer, Gilead, etc. These were lands under their possessions, but their mission had not yet been completed. They must enter Canaan and take possession of the land.
Two tribes, Reuben and Gad, had found the lands Jazer and Gilead ideal for rearing livestock. They decided to claim the lands first because they owned large possessions. They pleaded with Moses to give them the lands in consideration that they had a great multitude of livestock.
Moses then warned and questioned them, “How could you stay behind to build your homes while your brothers (other tribes) go to war with the Canaanites?” In addition, their failure to go to war would greatly discourage and deter the people. Moses also brought to their attention a historical event of the Valley of Eschol. Reminding them that even the spies came back with good reports of the land, the people still refused to go and possess the land. Read in full is here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201%3A19-37&version=NKJV
In the end, God was greatly angered and said to the Israelites, “Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me (Num 32:11).
The two tribes, Gad and Reuben, after listening to Moses’ warnings, promised to go into battle together with the rest of the tribes until they had successfully defeated the enemies.
With that, Moses agreed that if they carried out their due responsibilities, they could own the lands they desired for themselves.
What can we learn from this passage and the narratives?
Note: Below are some learning points the Lord has impressed upon me. Of course, there is more to it if you go deeper. Hence, you read commentaries, research, and verify if needed.
[1]
In times of crisis, the people should stay united in heart and spirit.
[2]
If it is God’s instructions, God’s people must obey and accomplish the mission given by HIM. To go and do.
[3]
The people of God must support one another:
- with prayers and fasting (ammunition and bullets)
- with emotional and spiritual support to the team (don’t
back off, don’t withdraw, speak assurance if needed)
- show care and concern for those going to
war (spiritual battle).
- Avoid discouraging others when we can’t offer help.
“It is a terrible sin to discourage the heart of another
believer.” – David Guzik -
- leaving or quitting halfway means leaving the team
to struggle and fight on their own.
[4]
Wholly following God pleases HIM, and we can be assured of HIS leading. The story of the Valley Eschol narrates that many Israelites refused to go and possess the land, despite hearing a good report from the spies who returned after surveying the land. This tells us the people did not trust God, who is bigger than the giant and mightier than their fears. God in His anger assured that those who did not wholly follow (obey) Him could not see the land.
Quote
Numbers 32:11(NKJV)
Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me (Num 32:11).
Quote
1 John 5:4 (NKJV)
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – FAITH.
[5]
Warnings from Moses, a leader, gave guidance to two tribes who may have forgotten their initial mission. The two tribes were redirected back to the right path.
[6]
A promised land does not mean it is ready to live in. There is plenty of work to be done. There are enemies, pagan nations, and wicked people residing in the land. God wants to separate the Israelites as His chosen nation from the rest of the world.
[7]
In this modern age, where many generations have passed, what is the promised land for us as the new generation of believers? The Israelites later did conquer Canaan. They also claimed the promised land. What’s next then?
Yet as God’s chosen people, the Israelites continued to live in sin until God had to deal with them. Judgment came, and God drove them out of the promised land and sent them into exile (banishment, outcast) in Babylon. For years, they went in and out of the promised land, scattered to different parts of the world. The word ‘promised land’ seems to have blurred or been vaguely understood over the years. It became a byword (saying only) without meaning, without accomplishing God’s intended purposes until HE had to send HIS beloved son, Jesus Christ, into the world, to redeem the lost.
The promised land back then was God’s faithful promise to Abraham and his descendants that HE would give them the land as their inheritance. The promised land, Canaan, is where God’s plans and purposes to redeem the world will be carried out, where our Saviour Jesus Christ will come from the lineage (family line) of Abraham.
To us modern believers, our promised land is not anywhere here on earth, but an eternal inheritance to be possessed in the future. God has promised a mansion made ready for every believer. This mansion or heavenly abode is the promised land God will give to us someday.
Quote
John 14:2 (NKJV)
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Here on earth, we do not own a promised land. Not the church, not our home, not KC, and not a certain spiritual location. Even for churches, works carried out outside the church included: outreach, helping the poor and minorities, mission work, and many more. Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, HE instructed his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. This means to go out and not stay where we are, to go and draw men unto the kingdom of God, to go out and work.
Quote
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Likewise, we are like the Israelites, going out to conquer our own promised land. To conquer those hard, difficult, and unbelieving hearts for Jesus. To draw the hurting, despised, discouraged, lonely, and hopeless back to God. To loop them into God’s kingdom, to be the salt and light in dark places. These ‘promised land’ that we have conquered here on earth will be our inheritance in eternity.
*For Our Thoughts*
Aglow Downtown is not a physical church. It is a ministry that serves many sisters and members. Let’s trust God for the new meeting location where HE has already prepared for us. We shall use the place until HE instructs us to move to another location. We can always trust and rest after we have already committed everything to HIM in prayer.
8) Modern-day believers can model after Jesus. During his ministry on earth, he chose to live without a home. He went around teaching people, performing healings and miracles.
“Jesus creates little pockets of promised land where people can experience the life, love, and rule of God.” (cited by Bible project).
“We create little pockets of the promised land as we gather together as God’s covenant community to experience his power and presence.” – by Whitney Woollard, May 4, 2018.
The Committee wishes to thank you for your suggestions on a few ideal locations. However, after much consideration, we have decided to follow God’s leading instead. How? Coincidentally, a Senior received a download from God one Sunday morning of such a place and location during church service. Immediately after the service, she went to look at the place and spoke with the restaurant owner. Subsequently, she also arranged for the committee members to view the place. We have found the place ideal, and it came as a pleasant surprise to all of us! Apparently, many of us actually knew the place, but it never occurred to us completely. We trust this is God’s arrangement. There is a divine reason behind it.
How long are we going to be there?
As long as the Lord desires. Again, let us trust God for what HE is doing in this new season.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, may You bless us as we go out and create little pockets of promised land outside our home, our church, our comfort zones, and wherever You have sent us to be salt and light for YOU. Following YOUR instructions looked difficult at times. However, grant us strength and resilience to go and do. In Jesus’ name we prayed, amen!