The Camino de Santiago (“Pilgrimage of Compostela”), known as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the Apostle James in northwestern Spain. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, along with those to Rome and Jerusalem. The number of the pilgrims has gone up and down since then, but still today, hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims and many others (over 300,000 in 2017) set out each year to make their way to Santiago de Compostela. Many people take this journey as a time of retreat for their spiritual renewal and growth, asking fundamental questions, “Where did I come from?” “What on earth am I here for?” and “Where am I going?”
This spiritual pilgrimage is not something that started during the Middle Ages. In fact, the Israelites were the ones who first started on their pilgrimage from the land of Egypt to the land of Canaan. Today we may not physically embark on our journey to Canaan, Spain, or Jerusalem. But no matter where we are on it, we are all on our pilgrimage, basically asking the same questions of our life. We, as a church, ask the same questions: “Where did we come from?” and “Where are we going?”
Egypt to Canaan
Though they are not easy questions to answer, today’s passage gives us a better understanding where we are from and where we are heading. In today’s scripture Moses compares the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan. In verse 10, he says, “In the land of Egypt you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden.” In other words, Egypt is fertile ground for planting crops. Yearly floods bring soil rich in nutrients to the Nile Valley. The Nile basin is one of the birthplaces of ancient civilization. In this respect, the land of Egypt is a land flowing with milk and honey. That is why when Korah rose up against Moses, he said as follows, “Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert?” (Numbers 16:13) From a human perspective surely Egypt is a land flowing with milk and honey. The life in Egypt is safe, predictable, controllable, and self-sufficient. We are in charge of our life in the land of Egypt.
Then, how about the land of Canaan? In verse 11, Moses says, “But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.” In other words, unlike Egypt, in Canaan we must totally depend on rain from heaven to get water. We must depend on God for living. The life in Canaan is dependent, unpredictable, out of control, and even humiliating. In the land of Canaan, not I, but God is in charge. Then, why is the land of Canaan called “a land flowing with milk and honey”? The answer is in verse 12. Moses says, “It (Canaan) is a land the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Canaan is the land that the Lord takes care of. It is the land that the Lord himself is a Provider. So, God promises his people, “If you love me and obey my commands, I will send rain on your land in its season so that you may gather in your grain” (13-14). From a human perspective, Canaan is not a land flowing with milk and honey. But, from God’s perspective, it is the most fertile and blessed land because only when we have a right relationship with God, we are then able to live a prosperous life.
Impossible with Men
Our Christian journey is the journey from the land of Egypt (“my kingdom”) to the land of Canaan (“God’s kingdom”). The Christian journey is hard, frightening, and even impossible to complete for ourselves. One day a certain ruler asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?” Jesus answered, “No sexual immorality, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother.” The man said, “I have kept them all since my youth.” Jesus said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all your possessions and give to the poor. Then, come, follow me” (Luke 18:18-22). So what is one thing? The heart of the man. His heart is not changed. At the bottom, at the foundation, there is “self,” not “God.” Here Jesus was saying, “My son, give me your heart. You are still in charge. Give God control. Let God be the foundation of everything in your life” Here Jesus was inviting him to get out of Egypt and inherit Canaan. But sadly, this man was afraid of losing power and control of his life. He loved himself more than God. “Die to self” was unthinkable to him. So he went away sad.
The land of Egypt is a spiritual metaphor. When we live in the land of Egypt, we think that we live in freedom. We think that we can do whatever we want. We say we can eat whatever we like, just the Israelites said, “We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Num 11:5). But the truth is that we are slaves in Egypt. The Bible says that we were living our lives as slaves to the fear of dying (cf. Heb 2:15). Jesus also says, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Just as the rich ruler did, it is possible to live a good, moral life without stepping down from the throne of our heart. It is possible to even keep God’s commandments without giving our heart to Him, without loving Him with all our heart. But the thing is, without first getting out of “my kingdom” (Egypt), we cannot enter “God’s kingdom” (Canaan).
Possible with God
Then, how can we get out of Egypt and enter Canaan? “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Lk 18:27). Human beings are spiritually blind, deaf, and hardened in our hearts. That was the condition of Israel, and that is the condition of all of us until God takes away our hardened heart. In Deuteronomy 29:4 Moses says, “But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear” (ESV). But then, we reach to one of the most glorious promises of God in Deuteronomy, that is, Dt. 30:6, “The LORD your God will change (circumcise) your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!” (NLT) Salvation belongs to our God. God will change our heart!
But how? God did change the hearts of Israel, God does change our hearts, and God will change the hearts of our children, through Christ Jesus our Lord! God sent his shepherds – Moses and other prophets, kings and priests – to lead his people and save them. But they were not willing to follow; instead, they had turned to their own ways. When the time had fully come, God sent his beloved Son to shepherd his people. He lived among us. He loved us. He laid down his life for his sheep. He was lifted up from the earth. Many people saw Jesus on the cross. They were convicted, moved, and drawn to him (John 12:32). As they turned to Jesus, God poured out his love into their hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). God circumcised their hearts. That’s what God did through Jesus.
In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian went down into the Valley of Humiliation after having a wonderful time at the palace Beautiful. There he met Apollyon, which means destroyer. The monster asked, “Where did you come from, and where are you going?” Christian answered, “I have come from the City of Destruction, and I am going to the City of Zion.” At first, Apollyon tried to persuade him to go back to the old city, but after it didn’t work, he made an assault by accusing Christian about just how unfaithful he had been. He counted his wrongdoings one by one. Apollyon pressed forcefully and persistently. But Christian stood his ground and said, “All this is true; in fact there is much more that you left out. But the Prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive. I repented. I turned to him. And I received a full pardon from my Prince!” This agonizing battle lasted for more than half a day, until Christian was almost exhausted. But at the end, Christian gave Apollyon a deadly thrust with his sword, and the monster drew back and ran away.[1]
Turn to God
So what is our part in salvation? What is our part to enter the land of Canaan? The answer is to receive God’s gift and to believe the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s to believe what God did for us through Jesus Christ. And turn to him with all our heart. That’s repentance. Repentance is to turn away from “my kingdom” and turn to “God’s kingdom.” Then, God will put his word, not on tablets of stone, but in our heart, and we will love God.
I still remember how a good friend of mine came to the faith. She always grew up in the church, but I could tell she was struggling with her faith. In her college years, one day she had a chance to attend a church prayer meeting. While praying, she saw a vision that Jesus was standing and waiting for her with open arms right before her. She said to Jesus, “Where were you when I needed you most?” Jesus said, “My daughter, I was here standing and waiting for you with open arms for 20 years. You didn’t turn to me.”
I want to close the way Moses closes in Deuteronomy 30:19-20: “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life” (ESV). Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us choose life. Let us turn to God with all our heart. And he will do it. Amen.
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[1] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress (Charles Foster Publishing, 2014), 65-70.
This spiritual pilgrimage is not something that started during the Middle Ages. In fact, the Israelites were the ones who first started on their pilgrimage from the land of Egypt to the land of Canaan. Today we may not physically embark on our journey to Canaan, Spain, or Jerusalem. But no matter where we are on it, we are all on our pilgrimage, basically asking the same questions of our life. We, as a church, ask the same questions: “Where did we come from?” and “Where are we going?”
Egypt to Canaan
Though they are not easy questions to answer, today’s passage gives us a better understanding where we are from and where we are heading. In today’s scripture Moses compares the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan. In verse 10, he says, “In the land of Egypt you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden.” In other words, Egypt is fertile ground for planting crops. Yearly floods bring soil rich in nutrients to the Nile Valley. The Nile basin is one of the birthplaces of ancient civilization. In this respect, the land of Egypt is a land flowing with milk and honey. That is why when Korah rose up against Moses, he said as follows, “Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert?” (Numbers 16:13) From a human perspective surely Egypt is a land flowing with milk and honey. The life in Egypt is safe, predictable, controllable, and self-sufficient. We are in charge of our life in the land of Egypt.
Then, how about the land of Canaan? In verse 11, Moses says, “But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.” In other words, unlike Egypt, in Canaan we must totally depend on rain from heaven to get water. We must depend on God for living. The life in Canaan is dependent, unpredictable, out of control, and even humiliating. In the land of Canaan, not I, but God is in charge. Then, why is the land of Canaan called “a land flowing with milk and honey”? The answer is in verse 12. Moses says, “It (Canaan) is a land the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Canaan is the land that the Lord takes care of. It is the land that the Lord himself is a Provider. So, God promises his people, “If you love me and obey my commands, I will send rain on your land in its season so that you may gather in your grain” (13-14). From a human perspective, Canaan is not a land flowing with milk and honey. But, from God’s perspective, it is the most fertile and blessed land because only when we have a right relationship with God, we are then able to live a prosperous life.
Impossible with Men
Our Christian journey is the journey from the land of Egypt (“my kingdom”) to the land of Canaan (“God’s kingdom”). The Christian journey is hard, frightening, and even impossible to complete for ourselves. One day a certain ruler asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?” Jesus answered, “No sexual immorality, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother.” The man said, “I have kept them all since my youth.” Jesus said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all your possessions and give to the poor. Then, come, follow me” (Luke 18:18-22). So what is one thing? The heart of the man. His heart is not changed. At the bottom, at the foundation, there is “self,” not “God.” Here Jesus was saying, “My son, give me your heart. You are still in charge. Give God control. Let God be the foundation of everything in your life” Here Jesus was inviting him to get out of Egypt and inherit Canaan. But sadly, this man was afraid of losing power and control of his life. He loved himself more than God. “Die to self” was unthinkable to him. So he went away sad.
The land of Egypt is a spiritual metaphor. When we live in the land of Egypt, we think that we live in freedom. We think that we can do whatever we want. We say we can eat whatever we like, just the Israelites said, “We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Num 11:5). But the truth is that we are slaves in Egypt. The Bible says that we were living our lives as slaves to the fear of dying (cf. Heb 2:15). Jesus also says, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Just as the rich ruler did, it is possible to live a good, moral life without stepping down from the throne of our heart. It is possible to even keep God’s commandments without giving our heart to Him, without loving Him with all our heart. But the thing is, without first getting out of “my kingdom” (Egypt), we cannot enter “God’s kingdom” (Canaan).
Possible with God
Then, how can we get out of Egypt and enter Canaan? “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Lk 18:27). Human beings are spiritually blind, deaf, and hardened in our hearts. That was the condition of Israel, and that is the condition of all of us until God takes away our hardened heart. In Deuteronomy 29:4 Moses says, “But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear” (ESV). But then, we reach to one of the most glorious promises of God in Deuteronomy, that is, Dt. 30:6, “The LORD your God will change (circumcise) your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!” (NLT) Salvation belongs to our God. God will change our heart!
But how? God did change the hearts of Israel, God does change our hearts, and God will change the hearts of our children, through Christ Jesus our Lord! God sent his shepherds – Moses and other prophets, kings and priests – to lead his people and save them. But they were not willing to follow; instead, they had turned to their own ways. When the time had fully come, God sent his beloved Son to shepherd his people. He lived among us. He loved us. He laid down his life for his sheep. He was lifted up from the earth. Many people saw Jesus on the cross. They were convicted, moved, and drawn to him (John 12:32). As they turned to Jesus, God poured out his love into their hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). God circumcised their hearts. That’s what God did through Jesus.
In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian went down into the Valley of Humiliation after having a wonderful time at the palace Beautiful. There he met Apollyon, which means destroyer. The monster asked, “Where did you come from, and where are you going?” Christian answered, “I have come from the City of Destruction, and I am going to the City of Zion.” At first, Apollyon tried to persuade him to go back to the old city, but after it didn’t work, he made an assault by accusing Christian about just how unfaithful he had been. He counted his wrongdoings one by one. Apollyon pressed forcefully and persistently. But Christian stood his ground and said, “All this is true; in fact there is much more that you left out. But the Prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive. I repented. I turned to him. And I received a full pardon from my Prince!” This agonizing battle lasted for more than half a day, until Christian was almost exhausted. But at the end, Christian gave Apollyon a deadly thrust with his sword, and the monster drew back and ran away.[1]
Turn to God
So what is our part in salvation? What is our part to enter the land of Canaan? The answer is to receive God’s gift and to believe the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s to believe what God did for us through Jesus Christ. And turn to him with all our heart. That’s repentance. Repentance is to turn away from “my kingdom” and turn to “God’s kingdom.” Then, God will put his word, not on tablets of stone, but in our heart, and we will love God.
I still remember how a good friend of mine came to the faith. She always grew up in the church, but I could tell she was struggling with her faith. In her college years, one day she had a chance to attend a church prayer meeting. While praying, she saw a vision that Jesus was standing and waiting for her with open arms right before her. She said to Jesus, “Where were you when I needed you most?” Jesus said, “My daughter, I was here standing and waiting for you with open arms for 20 years. You didn’t turn to me.”
I want to close the way Moses closes in Deuteronomy 30:19-20: “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life” (ESV). Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us choose life. Let us turn to God with all our heart. And he will do it. Amen.
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[1] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress (Charles Foster Publishing, 2014), 65-70.
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