Scripture:
Numbers 13:26-33 NKJV
[26] Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. [27] Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. [28] Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” [30] Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” [31] But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” [32] And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. [33] There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
Observation:
There is a lot of deep truth buried in the Old Testament. If you take the time to dig it up and uncover it, you might find that GOD has been saying something all along, that if you pay attention to it very well could change your life. GOD used Moses to lead HIS chosen people out of slavery in Egypt, right to the edge of the promised land. But it was time for a test. Are you going to trust GOD and what HE said, or are you going to believe what you see? Moses had sent spies into the land of Canaan to see what the best plan of attack would be. As they came back a short time later. They met with Moses and the people to explain what they had seen. Having picked a bushel of grapes that was so big it took more than one man to carry it, the report that they started to give was one of amazement in wonder. Surely what GOD said was true. The land that HE had brought them to was flowing with milk and honey and grapes… oh, and giants… it was well fortified and those who lived there were big and strong. Not only would it take courage to overcome, but they would have to trust what the LORD said and not what they saw. As the men who went to spy on the land started to speak, I could see those who were listening start to salivate, thinking of the food that was in the land. At this point, it had been way too many days eating manna in the wilderness. But the question in their hearts needed to be answered… could they do it, could they overtake the land? Knowing the land was good was very valuable, but GOD had already told them that. However, there was something else that GOD had told them that they were not paying attention to. ” I’M BRINGING YOU INTO A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.” They must have forgotten that part, or the enemy’s tool of doubt and fear had settled into their hearts. Either way, most of them did not believe it could be done. They saw giants in the land, and in their minds, they compared themselves to these huge individuals. I want us to notice it wasn’t those in the land that were considered GOD’S chosen people to be grasshoppers. It was GOD’S chosen people who saw themselves that was. Even though years before they ever got to this point. They were told that the land would be theirs they did not think they were able. Let me tell you what the bible is saying…. after all that had been done. They were brought out of slavery, the Red Sea was parted, they were fed from nothing, and they still didn’t believe GOD. Well, most of them, anyway, two brave young men knew what they had seen GOD do so far, and had faith that HE would do exactly what HE said HE would do. They had seen impossible circumstances overcome already. They responded with courage, saying, Hey, it doesn’t matter what it looks like, we are able to overtake the land. GOD said it’s ours, so it’s ours. We just have to go get it. I’m sure we know the rest of the story. They walked away from what GOD had promised them because they were unwilling to believe that even though HE had brought them this far, HE would not finish what HE started.
Application:
It’s not always easy to trust GOD. I can think of moment after moment in my life where I used what I saw to determine the course of my life, rather than what GOD said about me. It’s easy to do. Remember that what seems impossible for us is totally possible for GOD. It’s a hard learned lesson at times, and honestly, it could cost us everything. Over the last several years, I have learned to put my trust in what the LORD has spoken about me. Now I’m not always good at it, but I have gotten a lot better. Rather than approaching every situation full of fear, I have filled my heart with the living word of GOD. What that has given me the ability to do is filter everything I face through what GOD says about it. I want us to think about how that translates in our lives. GOD can not lie. If HE said it, then you can do it. Here is the catch… do you believe that? My question is this: why would GOD do for you what you don’t believe HE can do? HE is a good Father. Is HE not? I remember when my kids were little, just learning how to walk. They would hold on to my fingers and stand up. I could feel that the balance they had was good, but their footing would be a little unsure. So I would encourage them to take a few steps with my fingers in hand, and as they stepped, I would slowly get them to release my fingers. They may not have known it, but they were walking. Step after step… became running, then riding a bike, and now most of them can drive. My youngest is only 14, and we are still working on the driving thing. My point is that at first, they didn’t believe they could do it. But with the encouragement, they grew into young men and women who can do what they need to. That’s how HOD trains us little by little. HE shows us how to walk up to the edge of what we think is impossible and trust that what HE said is true, not what we see. My question for you is this. Do you believe what GOD said, or are you standing at the edge thinking I just can’t do it… Either way… you’re right. Of you believe you can… You will, and if you believe you can’t, you won’t. It’s that simple. Learning how to ride a bike was painful. I fell several times and had lots of road rash. But I can ride a bike with the best of them today. If GOD said you can, don’t give up until you do. If HE brought you to it, HE will bring you through it. Don’t believe your lying eyes. Believe what GOD said, and you will see amazing things happen in your life.
Prayer:
Father, I know you have a plan. It’s a plan that will leave us with our mouths hanging open, thinking… that’s exactly what you said would happen. But it’s so easy to look at what’s in front of us and see something that looks impossible. But what is impossible for us is totally possible for you. All we are asking is that you guide our steps in everything we do. Help us to believe what you have said. Take away our doubts and fears, so that we will press on into the promises that you have spoken over us. If you said it’s ours, we want to take it. If you said redeemed, then we believe it. Our faith was given and perfected by you. Thank you, Father. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, amen.