The land of Canaan

Front matter

l|l|IJIMIMHI|PipilJ III -Ml Nil II i he Land of Canaan

Rev, Edward R, Kelley

Class 1 .

Dedication

To the memory of my sainted father, a loyal Methodist and a Christian gentleman, is this little book dedicated.

Laclede, Missouri.

THE LAND OP CANAAN CHAPTER I

Chapter II

"And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah

* # * And Jehovah showed him all the land

* * * And Jehovah said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed. I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither." Deut. 34:1, 4.

The children of Israel had departed from Egypt, the land of darkness and sin. They had come up to Kadesh Barnea and had been turned back into the wilderness on account of their rebellion and unbelief. They had wandered for forty long years in the wilderness and now the second generation had reached again the border of the land of Canaan. It would not be very many days ere they would enter into their inheritance, but there was one man among the thousands, although the rightful leader of the people of God, who could not enter the land with the children of Israel owing to the exaltation of self at the rock. This was Moses. He could view the land but he was forbidden to enter therein.

When Jehovah called Moses up to the top of Nebo's lofty peak he showed him all the land. From this height God gave his servant a magnificent view of the inheritance that his people were to enter upon. And there is still given, in a measure, to the soul a revelation of the experience it is about to enter into and possess. This is true as to the experience of regeneration as well as that of entire sanctifi cation. The beauties, attractiveness, and joyousness of both experiences are held up to view before the people that they too may desire to have the same blessed experiences written in their hearts. It does not pay to preach either regeneration or entire sanctifi cation in an abusive spirit. But present them in all their beauty and glory, and hungry hearts and thirsty souls will be attracted thereto and enter in.

That must have been a most wonderful sight given Moses at the time. God saw to it that all the clouds were taken from the sky, leaving it dear and transparent. He gave to the eye of the meekest man a supernatural strength so that he might see all before and around him. "Way off to where the blue waters of the sea dipped into the skyline Moses beheld the lofty mountain range. He saw the northern limits and far off southern reaches. It was one long picture of wonderful beauty and grandeur. And he not only saw the land, but somehow, I believe he understood what it all meant and was to mean to the hungry multitudes in the ages to come.

Have you ever thought of itf God is wonderfully kind and good unto his children. He gives us these records for a purpose, and if we only grasp the historical setting of this beautiful picture, we fail, utterly fail, to grasp the real deep, spiritual significance that it is meant to bring to us. The teachings to be found in this incident are wonderful. May we not look at some of them ?

1. Moses Saw the Land Just Before His Death. There are many like Moses today. They wander about in the deserts all the days of their life, and at the last moment, when about ready to take their departure from this old world, they somehow catch a glimpse of the land which might have been theirs many years before. They have lost, oh, so much !

Now there is much that one can admire about Moses. He is known as the greatest law-giver the world has even known. He is known as the meekest of all men, not including Jesus Christ. He is known as the greatest leader of his day. He is to be greatly admired because of his refusal of the crown of the greatest world empire of the time, preferring to take his place with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. But we are to remember that Moses lost something. He gained much, but he also lost. No, he did not lose his soul. No, he did not lose his crown. Not that. He saved his soul and he gained his crown. But Moses did not gain the I^and of Canaan. Oh, what a loss was that to him! Don't you think, beloved, that there are numbers of Christian men and women who face death and realize that they too have lost something?

It is possible for us, when too late, to see what God has for us, and it is even possible for us to tell others how to enter upon the enjoyments of the blessings that God has for us, and yet fail to enter in ourselves, all because we have exalted self at some rock in our journeyings, or because we have failed to exalt Christ in some point of our Christian life and experience, when he should have had the praise. There are those who have the correct theory of the "second blessing", and yet are void of the blessing themselves. Have you ever thought of this? Well, beloved, it is true.

2. To See Canaan Moses Had to Scale the Height. And so it is today. If we are to see Canaan we are to leave the lowlands of thiff world and get up higher.

"Look how we grovel here below, Fond of these earthly toys."

This is what many a man and woman are singing and doing these days, while God is calling us up to Pisgah's height to show us the land. I do not believe we as Methodists have any right to sing that hymn. Yes, I know it is in the hymnal, and 1 know also that it is the experience of the vast majority of the Methodists throughout the world, but God wants to take us up above the world and its "earthly joys/' and plant our feet upon the eternal Rock of Ages where these things will have no attraction for us. The reason so many of us like that old hymn is because we are attached and not detached. We are attached to the world and not detached from it. If you are to see the land, my brother, you must get to higher ground than the levels of the Arabia. You must scale the heights of consecration. The world has its allurements, it is true; but you must turn your back upon these things if you are to see Canaan. Every thing — all things — must be counted as refuse if you are to gain a view of the land in its entirety. There is the mountain peak of separation before you. Lift up thine eyes and gaze thereon, and then like Moses scale its granite sides until you have gained the height. It may be a difficult way, and I am sure it will be a solitary way ; but, blessed be God, God will be with you as he was with Moses. Before Moses could see Canaan God had to separate him from his friends and his people. Don't let us forget that. It is very important that we should remember it. God had to separate him from the multitude, from human council. And in the silence of that lonely mountain, God spake to him face to face. And so it is with us. You and I, if we are to let God give us the vision he so much desires, must get away from all else and alone with our God. The multitudes must be left behind. Friendships of long standing must be broken. Relatives must be bidden farewell. It is a complete separation from and unto. From all that would hinder, unto God.

3. Moses Had to Beach the Place Where He Was Willing to Die. This is the hardest part of the journey. But, if we are to see the land, we too must reach such a place in our experience. Some one has said : ''Moses saw his own sepulchre first, then he saw the land." Moses did not scale Pisgah's height that he might become exalted in his own sight. To go that way meant death. It meant death to self, death to honor, death to reputation, death to all but God. And, beloved, if you are to see Canaan you too must reach it by the death route. As one has said: "The veil of the flesh is in the way of the Holy of Holies." It must be rent asunder by the crucifixion of self. We must die to friends, relatives, reputations, appointnients, our own glory, our own self-will, our pride, our worldly ambitions, and even to our very fear of dying. It must be a death that is complete, complete to all that interferes with sight. Are you willing, my friend, thus to die, that Christ, in his sanctifying power might live out his life in you?

4. And Moses Saw the Land, but How? He saw the land with his natural eye. Yes, but he also saw the land with his spirital eye. There is no doubt about this. And is it out of place if we should say that we believe Moses at this time got a spiritual insight into the meaning of Canaan that he had not gotten before?

Moses saw much. He saw all the land. Ho gazed upon the luxuriant fields and the snowcapped range of Lebanon, the winding Jordan and the hill country of the Anakim, and other sights. He saw Mt. Hermon in the distance in all its whiteness and beauty and glory. And think you it out of place if we let our imagination get the best of us here and think that while Moses gazed upon Herman's majesty, that there may have been another scene presenting itself to him in which he was to play a prominent part at some future time, the Transfiguration?

Have you gotten a vision of Canaan, my brother? Or are you still dwelling on the levels? There is much to be found therein to attract the eye and the heart. And there is much therein to be overcome. my brother, let us go up into the mountain and gaze upon the rich beauty of Canaan ! It is not a far off land. It is close at hand. One step by faith into yonder Jordan and the waters will be divided and you are there. It is a wonderful land. Fruits that no one ever tasted in the wilderness are to be found there. Mines of great spiritual wealth are waiting to be explored. It is a most wonderful land!

5. Concluding Lessons. This land is no myth. This land is a reality. It is no makebelieve. In this land the life is a life of faith and joyous experience. In this land Jesus, our divine Joshua, has become to us a real, living, vital Sanctifier, and a real definite, positive sanctification.

Then, too, Canaan is a land of rest. It is a land of rest in the living God. Beloved, have you this rest? If you worry about this and that and the other thing, then it is because you do not behold the beauty of the land, and you are not yet over upon its holy soil. If you are fretting and stewing it is because you are still on this side of the Jordan. "0 Land of Rest, for thee I sigh." That is what many are still singing today. Well, beloved, enter therein and all sorrow and sighing will flee away. That's in the Book.

Then, too, Canaan is a land of victories. The victories that you obtain in Canaan are by far greater than any you have ever gotten before. In this land you are not to be baffled and beaten in your life and experience, but you are to be overcomers. The battles to be fought — and there are many — are not yours, but Jehovah's. There will be hard places^ Yes, but in his name you are to overcome these hard places, for it is he who will lead you to sure victory. The giants of the "hill country" will rise up against you, but what are these when pitted against the Son of God whom you have abiding with you and in you? And let us not forget that when we enter Canaan we enlist, not for merely one single battle but for a campaign of aggressive warfare, until every enemy is defeated and we possess our possessions.

In Canaan there is real, definite, positive, radical holiness to be found. It is God's purpose, beloved, to have written in our characters all the beauty of the graces of holiness* for when one enters Canaan then does he become a partaker of God's holiness.

Then each one has his or her own inheritance. The inheritance of Judah was not like that of Ephraim. Nor are there any two inheritances alike. And so it is with us. Our emotional natures are varied, therefore are our experiences expressed in different moods. But we are always to remember that God will give us the best thing possible for us. He will grant unto us such blessings and helps and revelations that each one of us need. Let us not get our eyes on some other man's experience or possession, but upon Jesus Christ. You mar not become a Wesley or a Bramwell, but, thanks be unto God, you can be a saint ; and the fulness of God will abide within according to your faith and capacity. And faith has much to do with one's capacity.

Canaan is not far away. It is very near

to each of us, and it can be inherited while we are living, thank God ! Where Moses stood that day Canaan lay at his very feet. It was not far off. It was there. It is still "there", and it is still near. Thank God! It was but a few days after the death of Moses that the people of God entered Canaan. And it is sad to think that Moses could not enter. He was a good man, a righteous man, but there came a time when Moses exalted Moses and failed to sanctify God before the people, and he had to suffer for it. And, beloved, there are many Christians today who are missing much, oh, so much, of the precious things of God! The disobedience is sin; and disobedience and self least exaltation of self is sin. The least act of exaltation will keep the soul out of Canaan.

"Well then, how is one to get into Canaan V* That is a fair question. Do not waste any time in trying to get in on your own strength. Do not think that because you are noble, or highminded, or well bred, or good that you are entitled to enter, for you are not. It was Joshua who led God's people into Canaan, and it is Jesus — our Divine Joshua — who is to lead us in today. If Jesus does not lead us in, then we can not get in. Will you let him lead you in right now?

sm

CHAPTER in.

"But the men that went tip with him said, We be not able to go up against the people ; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel." — Numbers 13 :31.

The words of the text are selected from a passage that conveys to our minds one of the most vivid and saddest pictures in the history of the children of Israel, — the people of God halting upon the border of Canaan.

The incident also brings to our thoughts some of the hindrances that are keeping many of God's people from entering into the land in these days, and therefore failing to enter into their spiritual inheritance. Let us look very carefully at some of these hindrances.

1. Too many of ns depend upon human wisdom. If you will turn to your Bible and read with care the names of those who were sent to spy out the land, and have the meaning of these names given you, you will be astonished; and you will get some idea of the truthfulness of this statement.

Take, for instance, the name of Shammuah. Shammauh means, he that is heard. He is a man that requires and demands respect on account of his learning. He is a man of fame. He depends upon his own prowess and wisdom. And Shammuah is still living. It is to Shammuah that many go when asking about the possibilities of entering into the Canaan of Perfect Love, and they are turned back at Kadesh Barnea on account of their halting as they listen to the worldly wisdom of Shammuah. There are men, leaders we call them, who appear as men worthy to give advice, but they know not the deeper truths of God's word. Brilliant minds have they, but they do not know anything of God's fulness, and they therefore fail to give us the teachings of the Spirit of God. Thus they stand in the way of all spiritual progress. Such men as these are able to lead their flock into pastures of culture, but not in paths of righteousness and holiness, A highly cultivated intellect, although it be God-given, is not for the purpose of guiding one into the life of faith, or where they may enter into the land of perfect love and holiness of heart and life. I recall a young man to whom I went with an appeal during a revival meeting and his reply to my entreaty was:

"Mr. Kelley, I am as intelligent as the average

man. I can see things too, but " It is

not necessary that I should state how I answered him.

I take it for granted that this is the period of the church's and the world's age of intelligence — as far as we have gone. The leaders of the church are known for their great intelligence, their intellectual force. But how many of these same men are actually leading the people of God into the rich, green pastures and their rightful inheritance in Canaan Land? Jesus had this same spirit to run up against during his day. He was constantly meeting up with Shammuah in his ministry, in the teachings of the teachers of that time; teachers who were not able to lead the people into a land of rest and plenty. Paul had the same thing to face. He came in contact with the wisdom of both the Jews and Greeks. And he it was who said in no uncertain words: "If any man would be wise, let him become a fool that he may be wise." It is not learning that we are so much in need of. It is the light of God that we so badly need today, as much as at any time in the world's history.

We do not have the time to call to mind all the names mentioned in the incident of spying out the land. And let it suffice to be said : The very thought of sending the spies into the land was the suggestion, not so much of the devil, but of worldly wisdom. Why should there have been any quibbling over the matter? Had not God said that the land was good? Was not that sufficient? God invites every Christian to enter into his inheritance, drink freely of his fulness, and be filled with himself; and that is all that's necessary. Then, dear heart, why should you tarry longer on the border at Kadesh Barnea? Why listen further to the wisdom of the world?

May I not be permitted to give one or more further admonitions? I am sure they are not out of place.

(i) Let us be guarded against the opinions of men. God knows what we are. He knows what each one needs, and he will see us through if we will but trust him. We must, beloved, die out completely to the opinions of men.

(ii) Then, we are to guard ourselves against our own wisdom. There is where so many have failed in their spiritual life and privileges, — too wise to listen to or give heed to those who know best regarding God's dealings with his; people. Do not misunderstand me. I would not discourage careful thought before taking; an important step in an important matter, nor do I discourage the seeking of proper council, if* you are not sure of God's will in the matter.. But I do say this : When God's voice has beeik heard, and his word has been given, then there should be implicit and immediate obedience on your part. We must not forget that the way we have been asked to go is a ione way, and God himself is the One who will see us through to its end. We do not have much company in this way, beloved. But God is sufficient.

(iii) Then, we are to guard against prejudice. This is a sin — or we may say, an offshoot of carnality — that often gets in the way of God, with the result that many a good man or woman turns away from the deeper truths to be found in God's word and go down to defeat. They have been taught differently and it is hard for them to break away from their old teachings and line up with the truth of full salvation through the sanctifying blood of Jesus. If God is to have his way in our hearts, beloved, we must get to a place where we are willing to throw aside our preconceived notions and formulated theories, cut every " shore line" loose and swing out full and clear into the will of God. Yes, I am free to acknowledge there has been some wildfire and fanacticism thrust upon us — and we are not entirely free of it yet — but wildfire and fanaticism do not argue one single point against the doctrine and experience of entire sanctification. The same difficulty that confronted Israel is the same difficulty that confronts many today. They listen to the spies that bring a false report instead of giving heed to the Joshuas and Calebs in our midst. Personal prejudice must be given up if one is to enter the Canaan of perfect love.

2. The second reason of Israel's failure was that of fear. There are far too many who are always ready to listen to the devil. Not that they are not Christians, not that they do not dislike the devil, for they have no use for him ; but they give heed too much to his words and permit him to inject fear into their heart. In the narrative given us here the spies said that the land was good, the fruits of the land all that one could desire, and to prove it they brought a most wonderful bunch of grapes

with them, but They would inject a

"but" where they had no business. "But" the people were mighty, there were giants over there. Why the very hills were over run with them. But what does a giant amount to to a man who is in line with God? "But" the cities were walled up ever so high, until it looked as if the walls extended up to heaven. Fear is always apt to cause one to draw on their imagination and see things with an increased and imaginary vision. Such fear as this, my brother, is sin in the sight of God. "Fear not, I am with thee: be not dismayed." Now there is a fear that is perfectly legitimate, and that is for one to be afraid of their fears. It will pay us to be fearful of our fears.

But there were some reasons why Israel feared. May we not see what some of them were!

(i) They dwelt too much upon the task before them. This was mistake number one. And it is a common mistake among God's people today. But, beloved, we may rest assured that every sort of difficulty will cross our pathway through life. But, thanks be unto God ! he will enable us to rise above them or overcome them. God takes no account of difficulties. Take it for granted that they will confront us, but we are not to be afraid of them. Stand in the might of God and all will be well. Lay upon him our burdens and our difficulties, and he will give us the victory. Thank God !

(ii) Israel looked upon their own weakness and failed to recognize God 's own strength and might. The trouble with these people were, they got their eyes off of God and on their surroundings, until in their own sight they were as grasshoppers. Whenever the soul is turned in upon its own heart and life you are likely to find much that is discouraging. We must keep our eyes turned Godward and heavenward, for if we continually look at ourselves we will find all sorts of difficulties, and the first thing we knew they will look to us as cities ''walled up to heaven,' ' and we will see giants galore. But suppose you are as grasshoppers. What difference does it make anyhow? God is not measuring your strength and prowess. He is doing the fighting. Just trust God, my brother, that is all that is necessary.

(iii) Then there are those who are fearful of their reputation. Don't you think some of those people said: "I can't afford to fight

against the Canaanites, it will hurt my reputation." Beloved, God is better than one's reputation! A certain presiding elder called on Bud Robinson one night and said: "Bud, will you go with me and pray for a sick man ? ' ' Bud went. After driving several miles from town the presiding elder turned the horse into a copse of woods and said, "Bud, I am the sick man. I want you to pray for me. ' ' After praying until about midnight the elder rose from his knees and remarked: "Bud, if I profess the experience of sanctification it will affect my standing in the conference and I can't afford to do it. Let's go home." Home they went, and in less than twelve months that same presiding elder presided over the trial of Bud Robinson and expelled him from the Methodist Episcopal Church South, for professing and preaching the doctrine and experience of holiness as a second definite work of grace. Thank God, Bud Robinson is still true to the doctrine and experience! Reputation! Be-

38 THE LAND OF CANNAN

loved, if we are to be wholly sanctified, if we are to be true to God, if we are to pass beyond Kadesh Barnea in our religious life, we cannot afford to cling to our reputation. We shall be misunderstood, but God will see us through.

3. Israel failed because they did not believe God. They did not believe the promises of Jehovah. It was not that they doubted God's power, but somehow they lacked faith to believe that God could and would give them victory over every foe. You may believe with the head, beloved, that God can do all things but, unless you believe with the heart and put your belief into a practical demonstration, you are not really trusting God. If Israel had placed the power of Jehovah over against the " giants of the hill country/' that generation of Israelites never would have perished upon the sands of the desert. If you will make a study of the narrative, you will see that that is exactly what Caleb did. He put the power of God over against every obstacle. He said, "We be well able to go up and possess the land." Why? Caleb knew God. The fearful of heart said, "We be not able." That is what this class is always saying.

It was the Psalmist who said: "I have set Jehovah always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved." Beloved, that is faith ! If you really believe God you will take him at his word and stand flatlooted upon his promises, though ail hell should try to make you afraid. [Sometime our will is in the way. Now God does not want to break your will, but he does want to control and sanctify it. At times there are friends or relatives holding us back from our rightful possessions ; but God is able to get a grip upon them and make them a blessing instead of a hindrance. The harder the place the more God loves to manifest his love and power. We do not understand why certain things are permitted to come upon us, but God knows why, and that is all that is necessary. We do not understand why one has to bear with an uncongenial wife or a head-strong husband, but God knows why. If God is to work in you, and through you, and by you, then he must get you in a hard place that there may be room for his power to be manifest.