God offered the Promised Land to those he brought out of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 1:19-21 – 19 Then, as the LORD our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful desert that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea. 20 Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. 21 See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
After all that the Lord had shown them, did they take Him up on His offer?
Deuteronomy 1:26-28 – 26 But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. 27 You grumbled in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’ “
The land was theirs. The Lord had paved the way. He already delivered them out of the great nation of Egypt. What happened when they doubted Him and didn’t respond to this free gift?
Deuteronomy 1:34-36 – 34 When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: 35 “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”
They didn’t inherit the Promised Land. They remained out in the desert until they died off and then a believing generation came along and accepted the promise.
You’ll find many parallels in the Bible. We have been rescued from death, by the blood of Jesus. The promise of eternal life with the King awaits. However, if one doesn’t accept the sacrifice and promise, one does not enter into the eternal Promised Land.
It’s not enough to acknowledge God exists. The Israelites were not a bunch of atheists after watching miracle after miracle. They were a stiff necked bunch of individuals who didn’t act upon their faith. They didn’t trust God. Do you trust Jesus?
So what does one have to do? One needs to accept Him as Lord. Can you refer to someone as Lord if you never pay attention to Him? Can you refer to Him as Lord if you don’t make an attempt to live your life according to His plan for you?
Luke 6:46-47 – 46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
You don’t enter the Promised Land because you believe it exists, you enter by accepting the gift and taking the action.
Make Him Lord. You won’t lose your life, you’ll find it.