The Promised Land

Nov.11, 2014

by Bob Farrell

Over The Jordan

I’m in such a Saviour mode right now I think I’ll just continue stepping through the oratorio - right up to the Saviour Tour sponsored by Compassion International, Dec. 7-20, 2014, with soloists Larnelle Harris, Wayne Watson, Angie Primm, and Rod Fletcher.

By the way, if you haven’t done so please visit our new page @ facebook.com/SaviourOratorio. I’ll be posting this week on FB how you can attend a performance and even print some posters for your church.

Last time we were with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, ending with the fall of man. Let’s pick up the thread of the Story of God’s Passion for His People by going forward hundreds of years, to a time when Israel was groaning under the bondage of slavery.

Much had transpired in those intervening years - stories of triumph and tribulation. I still remember my first reading of Old Testament scriptures and stories, and how it struck me that those folks seemed to ebb and flow in huge, drastic swings - and mostly paid the price for their willfulness, pride, and rebellion.

I’m so glad us children of God are no longer like that.  Right.

Let me set the scene for “The Promised Land”: the people of Israel slaves in Egypt under the tyrananical rule of Pharaoh; weeping and wailing and much gnashing of teeth; crying out for God.

And He heard them.

Bondage, bondage 

Cruel oppression and bondage 

Persecution at Pharaoh's hand

Woe to sons of Israel now slaves in Egypt's land 

Years of misery and bondage 

Suffering under the tyrant's hand 

The people's spirit broken 

All hope and freedom gone 

Could heaven even hear their mournful song? 

Tears that fell like rain were borne in pain 

From Israel crying out and moved the heart of God

God chose to raise up their deliverer, Moses, fulfilling promises He had made to their fathers.

He stretched out His hand, brought forth the man 

To lead them from that place 

He took them for His own 

He would deliver them from chains of bondage 

Rescue them with mighty judgements 

Fulfill the promise of their fathers 

Be the God of holy covenant

God emboldened His deliverer to ‘Go down, Moses’ - and tell Pharaoh to “let my people go”. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and things did not go well for him. Plague after plague descended upon Egypt: frogs, bloody water, locusts, climaxing with the ‘angel of death’ - you name it they got it. Until at last Pharaoh relented and some 2 million Jews started to trek across the desert toward the ‘land of milk and honey’: the Promised Land of Canaan.

Born was the spirit in Israel that day 

A nation delivered as Moses had prayed 

Praise to Jehovah and His mighty hand 

Led them from bondage to the Promised Land

But along this journey the Israelites diplayed so much dissension, bickering, lack of faith, unbelief, and downright rebellion that God eventually judged their actions - and caused them to have to circle Mt. Sinai - where He gave them the Ten Commandments - for forty more years.

Wandering, wandering 

Years of marching and wandering 

Through the desert the people came 

Though their Saviour freed them 

They doubted and complained 

Were they to be abandoned in this place? 

God was always there with patient care 

He taught them all His ways 

And loved them as His very own 

He would proclaim the power of God Almighty 

And dwell with all the chosen people 

In their midst unveil His glory 

Showing them His strength in faithfulness 

A pillar of cloud led the children by day 

And a fire in the night as the Lord showed the way 

Tablets of stone held the holy commands 

Law they would live by in the Promised Land 

Manna from heaven, water from stone 

Miracle power of the Lord was shown 

God in His glory Whose wonders abound 

Leading His children to higher ground

God remained faithful when His people did not.

Holiness and majesty 

God revealed for man to see

Onward to Zion the children were led

Rescued in mercy from suffering and death

Chosen to follow the Great I Am

Crossing the Jordan to the Promised Land

The Bible is full of types, shadows, and symbols - and I can tell you the story of God delivering Israel out of bondage is a clear symbol and type of His people today. Most of us still in abject and open rebellion; full of dissension; doing our 40 laps around Mr. Sinai, with much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

But God remains faithful even when we do not. He promises eternal life through His Son to those willing to lay down their life, pick up their cross, and follow Him.

And one day we will come into His Promised Land. 

It’s just over the Jordan, folks. Keep trucking.





(Music and Lyrics from “The Promised Land” from Saviour, by Bob Farrell and Greg Nelson, circa 1994)