Union Baptist Church

“They came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedest them to do; therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them.” (Jeremiah 32:23)

THE history of Israel’s experience in the Promised Land is given in capsule form in this verse. It speaks of the conquering of the land, the corruption in the land, and the chastisement in the land. This history is a warning lesson to all people. But, unfortunately, few heed the warning.

Conquering of the land. “They came in, and possessed it.” The word “possessed” involves conquering in its meaning. It can mean to dispossess someone of something, to seize something, or to occupy by driving out the previous tenants. The Israelites did indeed dispossess the Canaanites of the land. They drove out the Canaanites from the land in order to occupy the land. All of this was done by the Lord’s help. God enabled the Israelites to conquer the land, for God gave them the land (Jeremiah 25:5). So the history of Israel in the land starts out in a glorious way. However, it did not stay that way; as we will see next.

Corruption in the land. “But they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law.” After the Israelites got into the land, they soon ceased to obey the Lord. How often it is that after a great victory or great achievement of some kind, a person falls into sin. After some great success will come our greatest battle—let us not let down our guard after victory and ruin the blessing of victory. Do not be so taken up in celebration of some success that you forget to maintain your consecration to the Lord of blessing.

Chastisement in the land. “Therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them.” Because Israel disobeyed God after they got into the land, God eventually brought judgment in the land. He chastened the Israelites for their wickedness. Enemy nations invaded the land and brought great destruction and hardship to the land and then carried many away captive. Sin brings judgment upon any land. And history will confirm that fact again and again.