Approximately sixteen months after God delivered Israel out of Egyptian bondage, He brought them to the border of the Promised Land. From where they were camped, the Israelites could see the beautiful hills, fields, and pastures of the land God had promised them as an inheritance.

Can you imagine the excitement that filled their hearts and minds as they gazed toward the land of Canaan? Behind them were the long years of slavery in Egypt — the pain and sorrow, the cruel taskmasters, the bondage, anguish, discouragement, and defeat. Their difficult desert journey was finally over.

Before them lay the land of promise with all the blessings of the covenant — prosperity, provision, protection, and peace. The land belonged to them legally because of God’s mandate. Yet having the promise was not the same as possessing it. The land was theirs unconditionally by promise, but possession of it was conditional upon their obedience.

God declared:

“If you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (consecrated, set apart to God).”
— Exodus 19:5–6 (AMP)

God had already sent the Angel of the Covenant before them, warning:

“Obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for My name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.”
— Exodus 23:21–22

There, poised at Kadesh Barnea on the border, Moses told the Israelites:

“Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us. Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.”
— Deuteronomy 1:20–21

God instructed Israel to advance and take possession of the land. Their destiny stood before them.

They had a choice:

• Obey God and possess the land.

• Disobey God, forfeit their inheritance, and reap the consequences.

The same principle applies today. You also stand at the edge of promise. You have a choice. What will you do?