WTFMT 73 (FROM HGM ON 11 FEB 18)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-73
TEXT: "And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven." (Joshua 18:12)

I. AVOID IT

A. The Wilderness of Bethaven is the second wilderness which should be avoided by the believer. "Bethaven" is two names in the Hebrew text: "beth" (house of," 1004, Strong's and other words and "aven" ("wickedness," 205, Strong's). "Vanity" is also tucked into the meaning of "aven" giving this Hebrew word for "wickedness" a particular shade of significance.
B. The Wilderness of Bethaven is the opposite of the Wilderness of Kedemoth. Remember that the Wilderness of Kedemoth was "a continual progress, moving ahead to victory and into fulfillment." The Wilderness of Bethaven is a moving in the opposite direction from that which God wants. In light of this, it is interesting to note that "aven" is translated "idol" in Isaiah 66:3. "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations." (Isaiah 66:3)
C. Idolatry is moving or being away from God. In one part of its Scriptural context, the Wilderness of Bethaven is a moving away from the inheritance which God given. The Kedemoth is just the opposite, a moving toward your inheritance. The obvious picture is that the Wilderness of Bethaven belongs to no Christian, to no child of God.
D. Bethaven is a backsliding direction, a moving back, a withdrawing, a moving out from that which is promised. This is clearly seen in our text. In this description of the portion of land belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, the leaving, "the goings out," is at Bethaven.
E. This "leaving" is the basic principle found in Bethaven. In our text the physical inheritance is the point of application. In the realm of the Spirit, "inheritance," seen or unseen, will always be somewhere in the picture in relationship to the believer.
F. In the meaning of "Bethaven," there is always wickedness involved: rebellion -- walking contrary to the revelation of God, in the vanity of one's own mind. Whatever actions and causes are in the picture, physical or spiritual, it is leaving -- one is on the way out.
G. Bethaven is the door through which you leave. The Bible does not say that it is the point through which you enter. We know that it's the point through which you can come into a geographic area. But the Bible does not say that, due to the fact that Father is wanting us to focus upon a certain aspect by excluding another aspect. This is clearly portrayed by the prophet Hosea, "Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place." (Hosea 4:15-16)
H. Hosea addressed the divided nation, Israel the Northern kingdom, and Judah the Southern kingdom. Israel was playing the harlot in the sight of Judah. God warns, "neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear." Don't go in that direction which leaves to Bethaven. Israel had backslidden, and continued in that direction. Bethaven is seen as Judah's point of leaving, her sliding back, moving away from God. Idolatry was the scene of Israel's activity of worship, while swearing, "The LORD liveth."

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. Leaving God for idols is very dangerous. We are to avoid the Wilderness of Bethaven. Let us move forward rather than moving backwards, so that the Wilderness of Kedemoth, rather than the Wilderness of Bethaven, becomes to us an experience.
B. Bethaven is indicative of a condition portrayed by Israel. It was to be avoided by Judah. This historic situation is a lesson for us. "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:6,11,12)
C. Thus, "let him that thinketh he stand take heed lest fall." We are to "take heed" so we do not make the same mistakes. So that we do not think we are greater then what we really are. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." (James 4:13)