神的百姓要进入并取得神所应许赐给他们的美地
从出埃及记、利未记和民数记中，我们看见神拯救祂的选民脱离埃及为奴之家，带领他们过红海，经过旷野。神这样作的目的，不仅在消极一面使他们蒙拯救；更在积极一面，要使祂所拣选并救赎的人，能预备好去取得神所应许要赐给他们的美地为业。
出埃及记告诉我们，神的选民如何借着逾越节蒙救赎，脱离神的审判，并借着三一神拯救的能力，得拯救脱离埃及的奴役与暴政。又在旷野中享受神属天的供备与神圣的眷顾，并且领受神圣的启示和训练，使他们得以认识神并事奉神，建立祭司的体系。
民数记进一步记载神所拣选并救赎的人，如何编构成祭司的军队，与神一同前行，并为着神在地上的权益与神一同争战。以色列人也借着一切的阻挠、试炼与管教，使他们得洁净，预备好去取得神所应许的美地。第一代的以色列人因为向神硬着心，试探神而失败，没有资格进入美地。第二代的以色列人是新生的一代，他们接受了第一代所经历的益处，现在他们预备好了，要进入并取得神所应许赐给他们的美地。
以色列子民的两代，表明信徒经历上的两代
我们得救的时候是第一代，在灵里被更新变化的经历是第二代；第一代是我们的旧人，第二代是我们的新人。当我们在生命上长大，在我们的心思、情感和意志里得以更新，我们就除去老的一代－旧人，并且穿上新生的一代－新人。我们需要进一步从以色列人的历史，认识如何借着享受基督，经历并占有基督这包罗万有的美地。
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Gaining the Good Land as an Inheritance – Deut. 1:8
God’s People Entering and Taking Possession of the Good Land that God Promised Them
From Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, we see that God rescued His chosen people from the house of slavery in Egypt and led them across the Red Sea and through the wilderness. The purpose of God’s doing this has two folds: on the negative side is to save them; on the positive side is to enable His chosen and redeemed people to be prepared to take possession of the good land that God promised to give them.
The book of Exodus tells us how God’s chosen people were redeemed from God’s judgment through the Passover, and how they were saved from the slavery and tyranny of Egypt through the saving power of the Triune God. They also enjoyed God’s heavenly provision and divine care in the wilderness, and received divine revelation and training, which enabled them to know and serve God and establish a priestly system.
The book of Numbers further records how God’s chosen and redeemed people were organized into an army of priests to march with God and fight with God for God’s interests on earth. Through all hindrances, trials and disciplines Israelites were made clean and ready to gain the good land promised by God. The first generation of Israelites were not qualified to enter the good land because they hardened their hearts toward God and tempted Him. The second generation of Israelites was a new generation. They received the benefits experienced by the first generation. They were ready to enter and take possession of the good land that God promised to give them.
The Two Generations of the Children of Israel Indicating the Two Generations in the Experience of Believers
When we are saved, we are the first generation, while the experience of being renewed and transformed in the spirit is the second generation. The first generation is our old man, and the second generation is our new man. As we grow in life and are renewed in our mind, emotion, and will, we put away the old generation – the old man, and put on the new generation – the new man. We need to further learn from the history of the Israelites how to experience and possess Christ, the all-inclusive good land, by enjoying Christ.