THE FAT OF THE LAND

1. Introduction

a) Do you know that our God loves to perform miracles for you so that you can tell them to your children and grandchildren about the glorious miracles he did? He did so that you may instruct your future generations to always learn to revere Him.

b) Do you also know that the place of breaking through allows you to enjoy the fat of the land?

c) Hence, let's look at what Scripture says on “The place of breaking through miracle” & “The Fat of the Land which you may enjoy.”

2. The Place of Breaking Through Miracle

a) 1 Chronicles 14:8-11  

8 When the Philistines heard that David was Israel’s new king, they mobilized their forces to capture him. But David learned that they were on the way, so he called together his army. 9 The Philistines were raiding the Valley of Rephaim, 10 and David asked the Lord, “If I go out to fight with them, will you give me the victory?” And the Lord replied, “Yes, I will.” 11 So he attacked them at Baal-perazim and wiped them out. He exulted (leaped for joy), “God has used me to sweep away my enemies like water bursting through a dam!” That is why the place has been known as Baal-perazim ever since (meaning, “The Place of Breaking Through”).

#1) Highlights:

i)  "Baal-perazim" is our portion and we have to believe that it belongs to us somewhere along our journey in life.

3. The Fat of the Land You May Enjoy

a) Genesis 45:17-18  

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ 

b) Three (3) meanings for fat:

i) Physical feature i.e. plump or well filled-out.

ii) Animal grease.

iii) Prosperous or fertile.

c) Let's examine what Scripture says on the animal grease (fat) and prosperity / fertility.

i) Animal Grease (fat)

@1. 22 “Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.) (Exodus 29:22)

@2. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s. (Leviticus 3:16)

@3. 3 All its fat shall be offered: the fat tail and the fat that covers the internal organs, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord . It is a guilt offering. (Leviticus 7:3-5)

ii) Prosperity / Fertility

@1. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ (Genesis 45:17-18)

#1) Highlights:

a) Pharaoh gave Joseph family the best in Egypt. They could also enjoy the fat of the land for the next 5 years of famine.

@1. 11 So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. (Genesis 47:11)

4) What is the fat of the land like?

a) For the Israelites, it was the wonderful sheep country.

i) Numbers 32:1-5

1 The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2 So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon — 4 the land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. 5 If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.” 

b) For God, it was the selection of the best places for camp.

i) Deuteronomy 1:32-33 

32 “But even after all he did, you refused to trust the Lord your God, 33 who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. 

c) For Israelites, it was a promise of great cities full of good things.

i) Deuteronomy 6:10-11 

10 “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. 11 The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, 

d) For Israelites, it was a promise of good land flowing with milk and honey.

i) Deuteronomy 8:7-9  

7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. 8 It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. 9 It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. 

e) For us, it is our desires that we may enjoy:

i) Excellent relationship with God.

ii) Spirit of unity in our family.

iii) Spirit of harmony in our homes.

iv) Strength and protection for our family.

v) Excellent spiritual growth.

vi) Excellent ministry.

vii) Favor with God and man & promotion in our jobs.

viii) Sufficiency for the day to meet all our needs.

ix) Profits for our business,

x) Continual increase in our wealth (treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places – Isaiah 45:3), etc. and the list goes on.

5) Prayer Focus

a) Do you want God to give you the best of the land so that you may enjoy the fat (prosperity / fertility) of the land? Then pray!

b) Do you desire to have the best from God? Not the second best but the best of all bests! Then, pray! pray! pray!

c) Prayer is the key!