Tonight I write this blog post probably more for myself than for anyone else.  I think it’s easy sometimes to fall into a routine that leaves us headed in a direction that we don’t want to go in. 

The children of Israel faced this dilemma in Deuteronomy 2:1-3.

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

And the Lord spake unto me, saying,

Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

Deuteronomy 2:1-3 KJV

The Lord is speaking to you and I the same thing, you have compassed this mountain long enough.  

What is the thing that you just can’t seem to get past?  What is the thing you feel is stopping you from accomplishing the call God has on your life.  God is saying today, You have compassed this mountain long enough. 

I promise you whatever it is it comes down to a habit or habits in your life.  

You’ve heard the phrase, “The devil’s in the details.”  In other words, those habits and little small things you’re doing is what’s stealing your ability to accomplish those big things you really want to do.  

The habits might be actual physical things or it might as easily be mental things.  What you’re thinking about is just as big of a habit issue as any physical actions. 

But this post isn’t about those habits.  I have other posts like  The Habits of Jesus that discuss habits and the ways we should live.  

Faith can Remove the Mountain 

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mark 11:23-24 KJV

Jesus here isn’t talking about a physical mountain like the one Israel was marching around.  He’s talking about that obstacle that’s in your way.  

But if you’re going to be able to say unto the mountain “be removed”, you’re going to have to have some faith.  And in order for you to have faith you have to hear something first!  (Romans 10:17)

This is what God did for the children of Israel before sending them into the promised land.  God took His people next to all the other lands that other descendants conquered.  

And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:4-5 KJV

Then the journey continued as God took His people next to the Moabites – the children of Lot. 

And the Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:9 KJV

I was reading this one day and asked myself, why would God have them go this way?  And who are these people? 

Remember two things…

1. Without faith you cannot operate in the perfect will of God – the promised land.
2. Faith comes by hearing

God wanted to build His people’s faith after they had traveled in the wilderness for so long.  Others had offered a bad report of the promised land.  Verse 14 says..

And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them.

Deuteronomy 2:14 KJV

It took 38 years before these men died off that brought a bad report of the promise land.  That means the children that were born had no idea about all the amazing things God did.  They heard the stories, but that hadn’t seen first hand the things their parents saw. 

So what did God do? 

God brought His children by all the other Victories

He takes his people through a journey and brings them next to the children of Lot and Esau to show them what is possible.  God showed them land after land filled at one time with giants that God erased from the face of the plant using men and women who were afraid of the Israelites! 

God was showing them, How much more can YOU do if you will trust in me!

1. Emims – Defeated by Lot’s Children (Deuteronomy 2:10)
2. Horims – Defeated by Esau’s Children (Deuteronomy 2:12)
3. Zamzummims – Defeated by Lot’s Children (Deuteronomy 2:20)

God shows all these things and then He says in verse 24.

Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

Deuteronomy 2:24-25 KJV

God built their faith up and then commanded them to RISE UP.  They went on the journey to see testimony of what God had already done so that they had the faith to act for themselves on the call God placed.  

Rise Up and Begin to Possess It

Just start with a small step.  This enemy was not the largest battle the Israelites had to face. It was just the first battle.  The same is with you.  Just take the first step and obey what God is telling you to do. Don’t worry about the rest. 

You have compassed this mountain long enough.

Begin to possess the land that the Lord has given you.