Genesis 13:14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Genesis 28:14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Deuteronomy 3:23 “And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan.
Abraham and Moses were both given a promise. Both were give to righteous men. Yet the promise was different in it’s intention. To Abraham, he was told to look east, west, north, and south and that it was all given to him. To Moses, he was told to look east, west, north, and south and that he would see it but not cross the Jordan and set foot on the possession but Joshua would.
Living for God has promises that direct us to keep our eyes on that which is to come, heaven. No matter what direction we look, we have promises of love, joy, peace and rest. As well we have promises of trials, pain, and work. In both we have God who loves us and wants us to desire Him and life eternal. The problem seems to be that we get so caught up in the temporary things of this life as we look to the east, west, north, south, that it over clouds our thinking of what our life should be all about.
The promise of eternal life through Christ ought to over shadow all that is temporary in this life no matter what direction is before us. This promise alone should make our hearts thankful and our actions worthy of serving, honoring, and glorifying God.
How easily do we forget the promises of God’s all powerful hand, awesome power, steadfast love, ever present guidance and place of refuge? Too often I would guess.
Stay in His word, learn of and trust in His promises, and keep your eyes on serving, honoring, glorifying Him until that eternal day arrives. Do not let your eyes and heart get distracted by what is to the east, west, north, or south.