Num. 34:2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)

The details given in this chapter mark the general boundary of the inheritance of Israel west of the Jordan. It also marks the end of their forty year wandering in the wilderness. The tribes of Israel were all elated to see the land of Canaan.

It reminds me of this hymn, To Canaan’s Land I’m On My Way. The first stanza of this beautiful hymn goes like this:

To Canaan’s land I’m on my way,

Where the soul never dies;

My darkest night will turn to day,

Where the soul never dies.

We like to sing songs about Canaan Land. But which Canaan Land are we heading? The false doctrine of premillennialism wants the physical Canaan Land situated beside the Mediterranean Sea. But nothing could be further from the truth. If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not look forward to that physical land of Canaan, why should we desire it? The scripture says that Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrew 11:10). His eyes were not fixed on that land beside the Mediterranean Sea. The faithful patriarchs desired a city that is heavenly and not earthly (Hebrews 11:16). And, so should we!

Why would I want to become Christian so that I can live in Canaan in the future? I could live in Canaan now (the land of Israel today) if I want to. The scriptures tell me that this earth will be burned up when the Lord returns (2 Peter 3:10). So, why would I want to come back to this “blackened” earth? I want to be like Abraham who looked forward to a city that is in heaven. No, Canaan Land is not Heaven.

Our inheritance is Heaven. And, we must prepare ourselves to enter that eternal home. What did it take for Israel to inherit the land of Canaan?

The first step: Get out of Egypt.

The second step: Cross the Red Sea.

The third step: Cross the wilderness.

The fourth step: Cross the Jordan River.

The Final Step: Welcome to the Promised Land.

Our journey to heaven is the same:

First, we have to get out of Egypt. Egypt represents bondage to sin. Sin enslaves us and we need to be free get out of its hold. Only the blood of Christ can deliver us from this bondage of sin (John 1:29).

Second, we have to cross the Red Sea. The Red Sea represents a rebirth (1 Corinthiaan 10:2). We have to be born again (John 3:3-5). In baptism we become new creatures in Christ (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Third, we have to cross the wilderness. The wilderness represents our journeys before we reach heaven. We have to persevere because the journey is going to be long and hard (Revelations 2:10).

Forth, we have to cross the Jordan River. The Jordan River was Israelites’ final passage into the Promised Land. It represents the end of our life on this earth as we cross over to meet God (Hebrews 9:27)

Finally, when we have finished the race and crossed over, God says: Welcome Home: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

It is a picture of the victorious Christian that is available to every child of God. It is a picture of victory in the midst of struggle. What a wonderful day it will be!

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

                                         ~ Eliza E. Hewitt, Hymn, When We All Get To Heaven~

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.