Introduction

Just now, our brother, in leading the prayer, spoke of the difference between the east and west banks of the Jordan River. We can trace it back to the beginning. Do you know how the east and west banks of the Jordan River came to be? How did Canaan come to be? In the history described in the Bible, there was a man named Abraham standing on the west bank of the Jordan River. God had him look eastward, westward, northward, and southward, telling him that all the boundaries he could see would be his. That is how the story came to be.

What I want to say is that people often like to calculate. The Israelites who lived on the east bank of the Jordan River were like that. After calculating this way and that, they chose a second-best land, and as a result, they calculated themselves into trouble. They went to the west bank of the Jordan River to fight for others, but after the fight, they could not get a share of the land. It sounds very unlucky. So, what is the reason for this? It is because they wanted to settle down and live a small, comfortable life.

It is the same with us. When you want to settle down and live a small, comfortable life, you will find that as long as you settle down, there will definitely be losses. I have observed that many things in the world that people do look like just phenomena, but they are actually spiritual matters. For example, gaining property, gaining houses, gaining wealth, the salary earned, the business done, and the position promoted are all spiritual matters.

Numbers Chapter 34 is quite tedious to read. I like to tackle these tedious scriptures. There are many tedious chapters in the Bible, such as Genesis Chapter 5, which is very tedious. Who lived for how many years and died, who lived for how many years and died again, who was born, who died, and so on. When I first believed in the Lord, I was confused. When I read such scriptures with many names of people and places, I would skip it. I can understand how you feel dizzy when you read these things, because I also felt dizzy when I first read them. I had never heard of or been to those place names. If you talk about Shanghai, Hangzhou, or Shenzhen in China, I know them, but if it is a small place where birds don't even poop, I really don't know. What's more, all the names recorded here are foreign place names. Who knows what those places are.

But whether you know it or not, God has marked out a boundary in that place, which is for the Israelites, saying: The west bank of the Jordan River is divided among nine and a half tribes, and the remaining two and a half tribes have already been divided on the east bank of the Jordan River. Thinking about this matter is very interesting. I was wondering why God still cares about these things? God has so many things in heaven, so busy, and still cares about such trivial matters as dividing Canaan?

In the Bible we read that Jehovah God specifically instructed Moses on how to divide the boundaries of this land. From this we can see that the boundary is a very spiritual thing. In verse sixteen, Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying: The names of those who will divide the land for you are Eleazar the priest and Joshua, and also choose a leader from each tribe to help divide the land. So, who are these selected people? God even named these people. I was very surprised that God cares about the boundaries of this land and the names of the leaders. All things that God cares about are spiritual matters. This is a very important understanding. If you do not know this, then it is really a big trouble.

Boundaries and Resources Are All Under God's Control

That is to say, worldly wealth, political power, property, and positions are all under God's control. In previous years, I often couldn't understand it, because in the local church, I heard the gospel of dying and going to heaven, but I never read about Abraham raising his eyes to divide territory in heaven. Abraham was drawing boundaries on the earth, saying that everything he saw was yours. Later, I thought, is it that after the New Testament, we go to heaven to divide territory? Some time ago, we checked Revelation, and I found out how we went back to earth again. I was a little confused. Are the brothers and sisters also confused? Later, I kept thinking about this matter, and I solved my confusion.

In fact, from the beginning God created Adam on earth, it was to let him manage the land. It is our responsibility to manage this land. It is not man's responsibility to manage heaven. This is God's business. And the boundaries and leaders on earth are all spiritual matters. Do not think that the resources on earth are not important. The allocation of resources on earth is very important. Why did the Israelites get Canaan? And why were the two pieces of land, the west bank of the Jordan River and the east bank of the Jordan River, divided? Later, I read Deuteronomy Chapter 9, and Moses explained it very clearly. These are all spiritual matters.

After Jehovah your GOD has driven these nations out from before you, you must not say to yourselves, 'Jehovah brought me in to possess this land because of my righteousness.' Rather, it is because of the wickedness of these nations that Jehovah is driving them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, Jehovah your God is driving them out before you to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:4-5)

Therefore, we receive God's promise not because we do well. This sentence gave me great encouragement, because many times we can't do well no matter how we do it. But thank God, God gave us this land, not because we did well, but because of the wickedness of the people on that land. Why is this? Because we do not rely on our own righteousness, but on the promise God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to obtain this land. We want to be a blessing to many people because of God's promise. Later generations can obtain property, not because they do well or are worthy, but simply because of the wickedness of that land.

Looking at the past and the present, we often find some things that seem to be reincarnation. Throughout the ages, some people have always been driven out by the Israelites, and then the Israelites have been driven out by people from other places. This has been happening all the time. Why is this happening? Because the people of that land are too evil, so God raises up a group of people who are after His own heart. What are the people who are after God's own heart? They are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to obtain that land. God originally gave that land to the Canaanites, which is clearly written in the Bible. God gave this land to the Canaanites, that land to the Amorites, this land to the Edomites... That is to say, the boundaries on earth are all determined by God. Thank God very much, the boundaries God gave to the Chinese people are very large.

From a spiritual principle, the demise of a country or a nation is closely related to the evil they do. The Canaanites were destroyed by the Israelites. This was done by God. This sounds a little unacceptable. Is our God a very evil God? One moment he destroys this, and the next moment he wipes out that whole thing, and then goes in to occupy their land. It is difficult for us to understand. Those people in that country are living well, why should they be wiped out? Then the people who seize it come to live in it themselves. This doesn't sound very kind.

But we must know that the people of Canaan at that time were really full of evil. When the Israelites went in, God drove them out, and the Israelites worked with God. But why should the Canaanites be destroyed? It is not because God is unjust, but because the people of that land are too evil. God seizes the resources of that land and gives them to the Israelites. At the same time, let the Israelites know that don't think you are doing well. This is the grace I give you.

We Christians must know that it is not that we are good enough, nor that the Israelites are doing well. These are all spiritual matters. We must also be careful, if we also do what is evil in the eyes of Jehovah God, God will also take away the resources given to us and give them to those who are after His own heart. From this principle, from the state to the individual, as well as our life, work, and income, what is the relationship with? It has something to do with pleasing God. If you are a person who loves God, God will seize the resources from the hands of those who hate God and give them to those who love God. This is the key of the key.

I have been observing and thinking for a long time, and recently I have had a very deep reflection. I used to always want to train brothers and sisters to be shrewd, hoping that brothers and sisters would be shrewd in doing things and not be stupid. But recently I have had a great change. I no longer talk about how to be shrewd. Every time I talk about loving God, because I found that the facts are not the case! In terms of human shrewdness, the Israelites are not as shrewd as the Canaanites, but God seized the resources from the hands of very shrewd people and gave them to the Israelites. Why is this?

What God gave to the Israelites was the covenant and the promise He made with Abraham. Why do I say that? Because Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob loved God, so God remembered the covenant He made with them and the promise He gave them. More than four hundred years later, God seized the land of Canaan and gave it to the Israelites, saying: Israelites! You must imitate your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You did not get this land because of your righteousness.

It is not because the Israelites did well, but because of God's promise, so the key role is the promise. Don't think that the Israelites got this land by themselves. Later in the historical development of Israel, we know that the Israelites lost that promised land, and were thrown around in many countries. This is exactly what Moses said, because the Israelites later did not love God and did not imitate their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Love God, and Keep and Obey His Words

We must begin to understand: What kind of people do you and I want to be? We want to be people who love God, and that is the shrewdness of shrewdness. God will give us His promised land, and we will also be willing to keep and obey God's words because of our love for God. This is easy to do. If everyone does God's word, but feels stressed when doing spiritual homework in service, then ask yourself, do you really love God? If you love God, how can there be pressure?

If there is pressure to love God and read God's word, then what does it mean? It can only mean that you don't love God enough. Don't make foolish decisions. Because of our love for God, the grace God gives us far exceeds all others.

I have a great grace in me, which is that I love whatever I do. I don't know if this is because of my own choice or if it is innate. When I was studying, I loved to study, so studying was not tiring for me; when I was working, I loved to work, and I was so engrossed in my work; I serve God, and I love to serve so much. I love whatever I do, so I don't feel tired doing anything. When I'm really tired, I take a nap and get up and continue.

Our brothers and sisters must know for sure that if you feel a lot of pressure when doing something, then I will tell you a trick: Love this thing and you won't be tired. People who love to play mahjong and love to play computer games are not tired all night long, and they are always energetic. So, what is the problem? It means that they love to play mahjong, which means that they love to play computer games. So, what is the result of loving God? It is to keep and obey His words.

This word is not far from you; it is in your heart and in your mouth. If you love God in your heart, all problems can be solved. I hope that everyone can make the smartest choice, which is to choose to be a person who loves God. Because we are alive, our breath of life is all in God.

Our God has delineated boundaries throughout the ages and distributed resources to people. Are you busy all day long? Don't you feel tired? Some people love to make money, and they get especially excited when they talk about making money. If you love God, don't you know that all the resources on earth are in God's hands? Don't you know that God can control the rise and fall of a country and a nation? Isn't the demise of a nation God's doing? For example, the demise of the Mayan people. If you buy insurance today, insurance usually does not cover natural disasters. Natural disasters are called Act of God in English. If a natural disaster destroys you, the insurance company will not compensate you.

The rise and fall of a country is called national fortune, and the rise and fall of an individual is called human destiny. Everything is related to loving God, and it is related to whether you imitate Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob before God, or do what is evil in God's eyes. I wrote a book based on the Book of Kings called Doing What Is Right in the Eyes of Jehovah. Why is this the title? Because people who do what is evil in the eyes of Jehovah have all perished.

The Israelites are no exception. Numbers Chapter 34 records that they were about to settle in Canaan, but later because they did what was evil in the eyes of Jehovah, they were destroyed two thousand five hundred years ago. Serves them right! Today we must know that the rise and fall of a country, the rise and fall of a nation, and the rise and fall of an individual are all like a strong wind blowing, and they do not shift with human will, but shift with God's will.

Since God controls the whole earth, God says to give this land to whoever He wants, and God says to give this resource to whoever He wants. You will find that many times it is an invisible hand that controls the universe, and that is our God. Today we must know with certainty that God can raise up the Chinese people in this era. There is His good will. Don't think that God will make mistakes. God will never make mistakes.

We must not become religious or stray from the Word of God; neither is an option. Why did Israel perish as a nation? Because they were severely dominated by a religious spirit, so God dispatched the Assyrian Empire to destroy the nation of Israel and the Babylonian Empire to destroy the kingdom of Judah.

Why were both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah destroyed by other empires? Because the Israelites did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. We must never think that the Assyrian Empire made a mistake; it was God who brought pressure upon them. Nor should we think that the King of Babylon made a mistake; that too was God bringing pressure upon them. Today, the church needs to be cleansed, and this process is carried out through the hands of foreigners.

If the church does not do what is right in the eyes of Jehovah, but instead follows the dogmas of the Pharisees, deviates from the Word of God, and does not act in God's will, then persecution will come. Therefore, we must know that persecution comes from God and begin to enter into the heart of God. For we know for certain that God controls the universe and all its resources are in His hands.

Given this, why did God have to destroy the people of Canaan? We might start thinking: Oh, it's a pity that such good people were killed. You must not think that your sentimental benevolence will please God; it will not! Because God determined to destroy the people of that land, God wanted the Israelites to rise up and possess that land. This was God's will for them. We must not be sentimental. God first gave the Canaanites more than four hundred years to repent. If they had repented immediately, wouldn't the Israelites have had nowhere to live? God has plenty of ways, so we don't need to worry! If God gave the Canaanites four hundred years and they still refused to repent, God would take the land and give it to the Israelites.

We must know that God is testing our hearts to see if we fear Him. For example, the New Testament records a story told by Jesus: A master was going abroad and gave one servant a thousand pieces of silver, another two thousand, and a third five thousand. The one who received a thousand dug a hole and buried the money, while the one who received two thousand earned another two thousand, and the one who received five thousand earned another five thousand as well. Now, the one who earned five thousand has ten thousand, right? When the master returned and settled accounts with them, he took the thousand pieces of silver and gave it to the one who had ten thousand.

At this time, do not be sentimental. Whatever God gives you, receive it with joy. God does not make mistakes. To some, more will be given, and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away and given to those who have.

Know that God does not make mistakes! Sometimes we feel, What if all those people are destroyed? If they are destroyed, they are destroyed. It's all the same no matter how old they are when they die. In the destroyed city of Jericho, there was a prostitute named Rahab who was the only survivor in the first battle west of the Jordan River. Her family was the only family to survive. She was a Jerichoan, a prostitute, but she longed to be saved again, so God sent Israelite spies to save Rahab's family. God does not make mistakes! Those who should not be destroyed, God will save them. What is God's purpose in doing this on earth? It is to give people a very heavy test. This test is to let us know whether we are people who fear and honor God.

If we carefully obey God's Word, we will surely be blessed by God; otherwise, we will be cursed. Both blessings and curses come from God. We must know today that how a person lives on earth will have a profound impact on the future. Believing in Jesus on earth is not just for going to heaven after death, but to live out God's glorious image in this life and to live out God's righteousness and mercy on earth.

Speaking of God's righteousness and mercy, you might say, It's a pity that the Canaanites were destroyed by God! If you have such thoughts, be very careful! Speaking of the rise and fall of nations and individuals, the entire spiritual principle is called the Matthew Effect: To those who have, more will be given, and from those who have not, even what they have will be taken away, and given to those who have. Having means doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and not having means doing what is evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Yearning to Become a Leader

In this process, God also instructed Moses to choose leaders, as leaders are key. When we return from Numbers 34 to the earlier chapters, we find that all of the previous leaders, except for Joshua and Caleb, had failed. Why? Because they only knew how to lead the Israelites to disobey God's Word. Let's review how many leaders there were in the earliest group. There were twelve spies who went to Canaan with Joshua and Caleb. Ten were struck down on the spot for reporting bad news. Korah and two hundred and fifty leaders rebelled against God, and the earth opened up a great pit, swallowing them and all that belonged to them alive.

Leaders need a very important quality, which is to love God and carefully obey His Word. If a person does not love God, his eyes cannot see through the fact that life on earth is a test given by God. The houses, cars, money, and many other things that they value are not what God values; and what God values is not what they value. We must know today that leaders are very important positions. Why? Because leaders are the ones who lead the Israelites in battle and obtain the land. Without leaders, nothing can be accomplished.

A few days ago, I asked a brother what the image and qualities of a leader are. The image of a leader is how he appears on the outside; the qualities of a leader are what is in his bones. The responsibility of a leader is great. To possess the land, you need a strong leader. God set aside this land and said it was given to you, but who will divide it? It is through the leaders chosen by God, and God even named these people.

Whether it is the previous group of leaders or this group of leaders, they are all appointed by God. But after God chooses you to be a leader, you must know that it is not because of your righteousness, but because of the wickedness of the people of that land. Do not think that being chosen by God is a guarantee for life. If you do not carefully obey God's Word, you will still lose it. If God has chosen you, you need to have the most important qualities, which are to love God, carefully obey His Word and be faithful to God! In the New Testament, it says: if you are faithful to God, you will gain more; if you are not faithful to God, you will receive a heavier judgment!

So we must know why the responsibility of a leader is so great and why the work of a leader is so difficult. Because the leader must lead people to fight the most difficult battles. If you fight the most difficult battles, it means that the land is the best land.

There are different grades of resources in this world. Very fertile land is what everyone wants to fight for, while barren land is what no one wants. In the land of Canaan, the most difficult land to conquer is the best land. Caleb approached Joshua and said that he wanted to fight the most difficult land, and as a result, he obtained the best land. The easiest land to conquer is the worst land. Therefore, today, if we want to be faithful leaders, we must trust in God and fight the most difficult battles.

If you fight the most difficult battles, you will obtain extremely rich rewards. Brothers and sisters, let us think about this again: are we, as leaders, willing to faithfully follow God and fight the most difficult battles? We must know that faithfulness is having faith in God. Since God has already promised us that land, today we must be raised up to become leaders who can lead our brothers and sisters to fight the most difficult battles. The more difficult battles you fight, the richer the rewards will be.

I was casting out a demon from a sister, and after she fell into a coma, her mouth began to babble. I said, What's the matter? Were you defeated? She said, The entire front collapsed. I said, Oh, the entire front collapsed, so how are you going to pay back, five times or ten times? She said, A thousand times. I said, A thousand times is good, go back and prepare. This is called battle compensation. This is a spiritual battle, and the blessings that were stolen from her in the past will be repaid a thousandfold. In the past, this sister's father died of lung cancer and spent a lot of money, so a thousandfold compensation is a lot.

Brothers and sisters, yearn to be leaders, yearn to fight the most difficult battles like Joshua and Caleb! Yearn to be a faithful person before God. Since God has already promised us that land, let us fight in faith, and there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome! Starting today, be strong and rise up with your brothers and sisters. Be leaders and fight the most difficult battles.

God is calling you by name. Be faithful to your calling, and shepherd the flock well and allocate resources well. Do not be afraid of heavier judgment and not be a leader. Do you think it is beneficial to receive a very light judgment? The rewards of being a leader are extremely rich. Joshua and Caleb obtained the best. Brothers and sisters, understand that you should not be afraid of fighting, nor should you be afraid of being judged after making mistakes. Decide in your heart to be a faithful leader, choose to be like Joshua and Caleb, choose to be a person who trusts in God, and receive more grace and rewards!

Today, God is calling you by name. You can become more and more like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and you will have more and more of the characteristics of Joshua and Caleb. Do not think that being a teacher brings heavier judgment. What a negative declaration that is. It is true that being a teacher or a leader brings heavier judgment, but do not be afraid of heavier judgment and not be one. Instead, ask yourself why you would receive heavier judgment. I want to emulate Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, emulate Joshua and Caleb, be faithful before God, and single-mindedly trust in God. God will surely make us victorious and surely obtain rich rewards.

Even if you are just a little soldier, you will still be judged, so brothers and sisters should yearn to be trained to be leaders and yearn for God to reign in our lives. Poverty is determined by God, and wealth is also determined by God. Will you choose to be poor or rich? Will you choose to bear the curse of poverty or choose to be rich in God?

This passage does not say that regarding the division of the land: It doesn't matter if I don't get anything on earth, it doesn't matter if I lose the battle. No, that is not the case.

We should yearn to live out God's prosperity in the world, yearn to obtain land and property, and manifest God's glory on earth. Know that poverty and disease are curses, and curses come from God. Know that resources are controlled in God's hands. God determines the boundaries and God determines the resources. They are not what you seize. The boundaries are not what you draw. If you move the boundaries, you will be cursed, because the boundaries are determined by God.

Leaders are stewards in God's house. The more they manage, the more and better it becomes, and God will continue to add to it. Because God will lead us in the future, even after we die and return to heaven, God will one day bring us back to earth to manage the whole earth. This is God's will!

Like Joshua and Caleb, whether they liked it or not, they wandered in the wilderness with the Israelites for forty years. Whether you like it or not, if you do not fight, you will be beaten; if you fight, you will still have a chance to win! Because what God wants is for us to manage the whole earth.

Summary

Today, while on earth, we must begin to cultivate our ability to manage and our ability to think comprehensively. Not in a muddled way, but clearly before God, knowing what God's will is. We must not be confused people, but know what God's will is. Cherish the time and use every minute well. If you love God, and have vision and dreams within you, even if it is hard work, it will not become pressure and complaints within us.

Joshua and Caleb bore greater pressure and more responsibility, and at the same time, they were the ones who obtained greater rewards. Whether you like it or not, time passes by second by second. Either way, you are living, so today we must choose to live in God's will. Use every minute well, because God has given us a very heavy test on earth, allowing us to learn to fear Him before God!

The whole meaning of Ecclesiastes is to fear God! If we live by the Word of God, what does it matter if we live in pain? If we do not live by the Word of God, it is actually very hard, and that hardship is difficult for us to bear. Brothers and sisters, starting today, yearn to be raised up in the church, like Joshua and Caleb, to become leaders chosen and used by God. Emulate Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and you will surely please God. Develop the character of Jacob in you, hold on tightly to God's blessing, and do not let go until you see God's promise fulfilled!

May God bless everyone!