Many years ago when I was in high school, our school received our very first
computers. Knowing that the world slowly transforming toward being computer
dependent my father insisted that I sign up for the programming class. The
programing language that we learned was basic as a matter of fact that is what it
was called, “basic”. One of the first things that we learned was called an “if then”
statement. “If this”, “then this”. In other words, you were programming the
computer that if it recognized a certain word or thing that it would respond in a
certain way. Through these statements we could design certain simple word
games and program the computer to perform simple functions.
Many believers view the miracles and promises of G-D from the perspective of “if,
then” statements. They believe that their actions, their behavior or their obedience
causes G-D to respond in a certain way. The problem with this thinking is that it
exchanges the role of authority from G-D having authority to our having the
authority. It reverses the reality, and reality places humanity on the throne and
would make G-D the servant instead of us.
Let’s look at an example. In Deuteronomy 19:8-9:
8 “Suppose Adonai your God enlarges your territory, as He has sworn
to your fathers, and He gives you all the land that He promised to give
to your fathers— 9 when you take care to do all this mitzvah that I am
commanding you today, to love Adonai your God and to always walk
in His ways. Then you are to add three more cities for yourself,
besides these three.
Verse 8 begins with the word “suppose” which means essentially “if”, actually in
many bibles the word “suppose” is translated “if”. But when we read the context of
verse 8 we find that Moses is speaking to Israel about something G-D has already
promised them. At this point in time Israel is inheriting the Promised Land, but the
area they were taking was not the complete dimensions of the land promised to
Abraham in Genesis 15:18:
18 On that day Adonai cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this
land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River:
We all know that when it comes to G-D He cannot lie. In Numbers 23:19:
19 God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes his mind!
Does He speak and then not do it, or promise and not fulfill it?
And 2 Corinthians 1:20:
20 For in Him all the promises of God are “Yes.” Therefore also
through Him is the “Amen” by us, to the glory of God.
With all of this in mind we should understand that G-D was not saying “suppose” in
the way of an “if as if,” it was possible that G-D would not keep His promises. He
had already made the promise and the Promised Land in its entirety. It was and is
going to be given to Israel. So this “if or suppose” should be read by people of faith
as a “when.” In other words, G-D has promised Israel the Promised Land so it is a
done deal. The Land already belongs to Israel the question isn’t and has never
been “will it happen?” The question is only “when will Israel receive what G-D has
already given them?”.
Thats why verse 9 is in the text. Verse nine begins with the word “when” which in
many bibles is translated “if”. But it isn’t an “if” it is a “when”. Because it is also
something that is going to happen. There is a time prophesied when Israel
will receive the fulness of the promise of the Promise Land, and it will be when
they “Love the L-Rd their G-D and always walk in His ways”.
Now you may say that the above contradicts the statement above about our
actions causing G-D to do something for us. But the truth is that it doesn’t at all.
The truth is that G-D has already given the Land to Israel they simply need to
receive what He already did. In the same way, the Scriptures proclaim in Isaiah
53:5
5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed
because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon
Him, and by His stripes we are hea
led.
We know that Yeshua already took these stripes for our healing. Our healing has
already been provided! We don’t pray to be healed we pray to receive the healing
which we have already been provided. Our prayers are not causing G-D to do
something for us they are simply our way of responding to the understanding that
He has already provided the promise of healing.
So anytime you read in the Scripture and the words say “If” G-D does something
that He has already promised know deep within your heart that it isn’t an “if.”
When G-D has promised us something, those “ifs” are all “whens.”