"Property unjustly or wickedly used, is taken from those who have it, and ultimately finds its way into better hands." - The Pulpit Commentary
The other day, while reading Genesis 12, I seemed to be "arrested" by the Holy Spirit when I came to verses 6 and 7. It appeared as though these words jumped off the page at me - "...And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land..."
"...the Canaanite was then in the land." But that did not matter to God Who is the Moral Governor of the world. He decided that that land - from this time forward - was going to belong to Abram's seed.
Notice that the LORD did not take a survey or ask the Canaanite what he felt about this transaction. He is God. He owns all of the Real Estate in the world. He is in total control. He determines who has what and where things belong.
"...the Canaanite" may have been "in the land" - but not for long. God had said otherwise.
The "land" would now belong to Abram's family.
In the past, this "land" belonged to the posterity of Shem, but Canaan's offspring seized upon it and held it. Consequently, the "Canaanite" became the occupying tenant; that is, until the "word of the LORD" came to Abram and said otherwise.
It is important that you remember that Abram - in obedience to God - left the land of his nativity - "Ur of the Chaldees."
Genesis 12:1-5 gives the account - "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing...So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him...And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came."
No act of obedience to God goes without a "reward" or blessing.
"Canaan" was not a stretch of unoccupied territory but a populated region. Its present occupiers were many, strong, hateful, hostile, wicked, and impure. But it did not matter how formidable and firmly rooted the "Canaanite" was - God's great promise said it would belong to Abram's descendents. However, the immediate possession of it by his "seed" would not be without a challenge.
Seeing the fulfillment of this God-given promise would be quite a trial of Abram's faith.
Nonetheless, the presence of hostile "Canaanites" would serve as no "obstacle" to a man walking by faith!
Stop and think for a minute! What has God promised you that is presently in the hands of another - possibly even in the hands of the "enemy"?
God wants you to see that He is in total control of all things - yes, even the real estate of the world! It does not matter who presently "occupies" what He has promised you. You may not even know how He will bring His promise to pass. But just know this - if what He has promised you is in the hands of another, an "exchange" is about to happen - on your behalf!
God has not forgotten what you have given up in order to obey Him!
Though you see the "Canaanite" occupying the "territory" promised to you, don't stop believing!
Hebrews 11:11 tells us of Sarah - "...because she judged Him faithful Who had promised." You will, too!
Believe big - for lands, properties, houses, finances, people to assist you, etc. Though there may be a "struggle" - keep on keeping on! Stay in faith - believing for the fulfillment of your God-given promise - which cannot lie!
Proverbs 13:22 says - "...and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."
It is important that you understand that "wealth" may come as a benefit of righteous living. However, it is no guarantee of it. Proverbs 28:6 seems to confirm that fact in saying - "Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich."
Nonetheless, for the purpose of this update message, we want to consider what the Believer's Bible Commentary had to say in response to Proverbs 13:22 - "Ill-gotten gain has a way of finding better hands." In other words, heaped-up treasures of the wicked find their way at last into the hands of better men.
Throughout the Bible, we see this principle demonstrated.
Exodus 12:36 says - "And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians."
Job 27:16-17 says - "Though he (the wicked man) heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver."
Isaiah 61:6 says - "But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves."
Allow me to interject this one thought here. In the past (or even presently) you may have found yourself working for "Pharaoh" - an oppressive "taskmaster" - while receiving a "slave's" wage. You were used and taken advantage of. You labored and suffered lack - while others benefited greatly by your hard work.
Be encouraged! In His providence, God has a way of transferring into the hands of the "just" what the wicked have laid up for themselves. Just take a look at what He did for His people in Egypt. By His providence, He took the riches of the Egyptians and put them into the hands of the Israelites - His people. And that was His intent from the very beginning!
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary had this to say in comment - "God so orders that the gains of sinners inure to the just."
Proverbs 28:8 confirms this in saying - "He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor."
At the start of this New Year, God has given me a very unusual "word" for this update.
I believe that many of you are going to see a transfer of "wealth" from the hands of the wicked into your hands. Many of you are going to see God uproot the "Canaanite" and plant you in his place. Many of you are going to be given the "tools" that you need in order to fulfill the call of God on your life.
What God has promised to you is going to be fulfilled - just as He said.
Lay hold of His promise! Believe Him for it! It will happen just as He said!
But you must believe!
When it happens, remember to keep the "work" of the Lord or the advancement of God's kingdom as your top priority.
The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 - "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
As you already know, it takes considerable funds to get the "work" done!
And, since this "word" from the Lord is coming to you via Walking In Truth Ministry, by all means, we ask that you remember us - first and foremost - in your financial giving - as the Lord fulfills His promise to you!
Believe for it to happen during this year of 2016!
To all those who faithfully support us every month with your financial gift, we want to say - "Thank You" - from the bottom of our hearts. We could never have accomplished all that we are doing without your help! May the Lord reward you richly in this life and in the life to come! We know that He will!
If you would like to be a blessing to this ministry or a faithful supporter, you can make your check out to - Walking In Truth Ministry - and mail it to the following address -
Walking In Truth Ministry
P.O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX 75138-3016
Or, if you prefer to use Paypal, you can send your financial gift to - [email protected]
You can also send a Money gram - if that means of exchange will work better for you.
We are a nonprofit organization with a tax exemption status.
Thank you ahead of time for your gracious gift,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved