“17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 13:17-18

God delivered millions of Israelites from Egyptians bondage.  However, only TWO actually made it to the promise land from the age of 20 years old and up (Numbers 14:26-30).  When Moses warned the generation of murmuring Israelites of their transgressions, they turned away from the Lord and presumed to move forward in their own self will to go up into the promised land where they were smitten before their enemies.

“42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that you be not smitten before your enemies.

43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword: because you are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.

44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.” Numbers 14:42-44.

Religion points us to the promised land and exhorts us to “presume to go up”.  Self will cannot get us to the promised land.  40 days of purpose or humanistic psychology will not get us to the promised land.   There is but One Way to the promised land and that is through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross.  Our faith is not in the “promised land” but in Jesus, Who He is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe.  

“13 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

Only TWO made it to the promised land from the generation of murmuring Israelites.  Narrow is the way which leads unto life.  

-Donna Clark Warren