Numbers 14:1-15:16 / Mark 14:53-72 / Psalm 53 / Proverbs 11:4
A land flowing with milk and honey… What a strange saying! What does it mean? I’ve heard this read from scripture, and read it myself, since I started reading the KJV Bible at age 5. Yes, I was reading that difficult to understand version as a little girl. Let’s take a story break so I can share that with you!
When I started researching home schooling for my own children, I asked my mom whether I had learned by sight words or phonics. She told me neither. As a matter of fact, she said no one taught me to read; I simply began reading one day straight from the KJV Bible. How can that be?
She said, and I’m sure this is what allowed me to learn, that my Granddaddy Wheeler read to me every day from the time I came home from the hospital until we moved to PA when I was about 7-8 months old. We lived with them while my dad was in the Mediterranean for 6 months with the Navy.
Maybe there’s more to the story of my learning to read, but that’s all I know. I also somehow have an innate understanding of word meanings based on their Greek and Latin roots, and no one taught me that either. A God-given gift? Maybe!
Back to milk and honey… When we read this phrase in scripture, is it literal or figurative? I think it’s both and that’s proven when looking it up in the Strong’s Concordance. Here’s what I found.
Milk = halab = milk, sour milk, and cheese. Also – abundance of the land, to make the wealth of nations one’s own, claim for oneself.
Honey = debas = honey or honeycomb. Also – honey of grapes or new wine. Also – used of very pleasant discourse (I’m thinking fellowship with God and one another).
Not only was God promising physical provision of food, but He was also letting the Israelites know they would inherit the best of the land, the riches, and that they would have a time of peace and rest among each other and Him. At least that’s how I interpret this.
Yes, they were going to have to fight the “giants” in the land first – battle before blessing – and that generation would have to die out because of their unbelief, but their children would inherit the promise! And the same is true for us – we often must battle some giants to receive our blessing.
Where do you see “milk and honey” in your life? Would you share?
