Can Promises and Realities Coexist in the Journey to the Promised Land?
In this article, you will learn how Deuteronomy 11:31 contradicts Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3, Numbers 14:34, Hebrews 3:19 and Psalm 95:11. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land, as narrated in the Bible, presents an intriguing interplay of divine promises and real-world challenges. In Deuteronomy 11:31, Moses relays a clear promise from God: the people will cross the Jordan River, settle in a special land given to them, and make it their home. This verse encapsulates hope, direction, and divine assurance.
However, as we follow their journey, various other scriptures cast doubt on the straightforward fulfillment of this promise. For instance, in Joshua 23:13, God warns that He will not continue to drive out the nations, indicating the Israelites will have to confront and coexist with other peoples. This seems at odds with the earlier promise of a smooth entry and possession of the land.
The narrative in Judges 2:3 echoes this, as God again states He will not clear the way for the Israelites, complicating the vision of easy settlement in Deuteronomy 11:31. It’s akin to someone being promised a new house, yet upon arrival, finding that the previous occupants refuse to leave.
Numbers 14:34 takes an emotional turn, documenting a decree of forty years of wandering, which starkly contrasts the imminent crossing of the Jordan mentioned in Deuteronomy. In Hebrews 3:19, unbelief is cited as a barrier preventing entry into the land, suggesting that internal struggles can derail even divinely assured paths.
Finally, Psalm 95:11 serves as a sobering reminder of divine judgment, where God swears that certain people will not enter His rest, contradicting the original assurance of possession.
Together, these verses prompt reflection on the nature of promises, faith, and the complexities of human behavior. How do these contradictions influence our understanding of trust and divine guidance, especially when faced with real-world challenges?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Deuteronomy 11:31 | For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. |
| 2. | Joshua 23:13 | Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. |
| 3. | Judges 2:3 | Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. |
| 4. | Numbers 14:34 | After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. [breach...: or, altering of my purpose] |
| 5. | Hebrews 3:19 | So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. |
| 6. | Psalm 95:11 | Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. [that...: Heb. if they enter into my rest] |