Living in Canaan: A Picture of the Spirit-Filled Christian Life

Listen to Today’s Passage – Exodus 22 – 24 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Exodus 22

(Second Milers also read – Luke 8 – 9; Proverbs 27; Psalms 126 – 130)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0127 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Following Through.“

“20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. … 25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. 26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. 27 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.” (Exodus 23:20–22, 25–27)

God’s Promised Blessing of Protection and Provision in Canaan

In Exodus 23, we see the nation of Israel travelling in the wilderness on their way out of Egypt and into Canaan, the land of promise. The verses cited above are some of those promises that were associated with the land. A careful reading of the chapter will reveal that God promised his people prosperity, which included abundant provision and divine protection if they obeyed Him. God promised that the inhabitants of the land would be driven out, and all of the enemies of Israel would flee from them. Again, these promises were contingent upon the nation’s obedience in wholly following the Lord.

A Picture of the Spirit-Filled Life

In this passage we see a picture of the Christian life today. God has also delivered us spiritually out of Egypt and the power and penalty of sin when He saved us. He wants to bring us into the spiritual land of Canaan, which is the Spirit-filled, Christ-centered life; a life surrendered wholly to God’s will. Canaan in the Old Testament does not picture Heaven. There were still battles to fight there, which will not be the case when we get to Heaven. Canaan is, however, a picture of spiritual victory.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:1)

“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. … 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal 5:16, 25)

The Problem Hindering Believers Today from Entering Canaan

Unfortunately, as we will find out in future passages, Israel’s entrance into Canaan will be delayed by several decades because the congregation as a whole will allow their fears to rule, causing their faith in God to fail. They will choose to follow their own way instead of believing and wholly surrendering to God (see Numbers 13 – 14). 

Entering Canaan today for the believer is also contingent upon our yieldedness to the Spirit of God and submission to the will of God. Too many believers today are content to wander in the wilderness of their own reasoning and understanding – their flesh is in control. They are still doing their thing instead of God’s thing. What’s worse is that there are also many genuine believers who live with their backs turned from Canaan and their focus still on Egypt (the world).

“5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:5–6)

The Solution – Surrender to God

It is my desire to live in Canaan. I want to have the victories that God promises for those who are surrendered to Him. I am tired of wandering in the spiritual barreness of the wilderness. How about you? God has an abundant life prepared for you which also includes provision, protection, power, and a wonderful purpose, but you cannot do it your way. You must surrender your will to the perfect will of God. Let the Holy Spirit of God control you and guide you, and you will also experience the wonderful blessing and abundant life that God desires for you in your spiritual Canaan.

• Are you experiencing the “wilderness” or “Canaan” in your walk right now?

• What area of your life needs more surrender to the Holy Spirit?