Reason #648
I finished Numbers tonight. I am so glad to be making some progress and getting more into the stories than the details. The excitement is picking up here, and God is ready to move the Israelites into the Promised Land.
In Numbers 13, Moses sends 12 men, one from each tribe, to check out the Promised Land. They were heading in as scouts and were to return with a report of what they saw. It's easy for me to forget that we're dealing with a nation here. I think of them trekking through the dessert in a little caravan, but that wasn't the case. Each tribe had thousands of members, and so these men were individually representing thousands of people. When you think of it that way, then you realize that these men were obviously the leaders of the leaders in their tribe. This wasn't done on a volunteer basis. No, each of these men were picked out and I have to believe it was for good reason. I'm sure these were men of obvious faith. Men who had great character and leadership skills. These had to have been brave men who were honored among their tribe. Men who had stepped up and been noticed along the way. And so these men were entrusted with a really big mission.
The twelve come back and they give a report of how incredible the Promised Land is. It was everything God had told them it would be. They brought back fruit as proof of the prosperity and abundance of the land. Yet as the finished up their report, they mentioned the giants that lived there. Despite all of the incredible things they saw, plus knowing that God had already picked this land out for them, 10 of the men decided that it wasn't a good idea to move in. Ten of these men essentially decided that this nation should skip out on God's blessing and be completely disobedient. They persuaded thousands upon thousands of people to doubt God, to question His plan, simply because of their fears. But there were 2 who thought differently. Two men who recognized that the giants did live there, but also realized that they had God on their side. Two men who were brave enough to stand in front of a whole nation and go against the popular vote. Because these men were men of authentic, true, faith. Men who trusted God and remembered His power. Men who believe God when He said He on their side. And men who were willing to risk their lives to be obedient and follow God's will.
These men were the only two who got to experience God's blessings out of the whole group. That entire Israelite nation continued to wander in the wilderness until every last one died before God allowed them to enter the Promised Land. And I realized as I read this how often our unbelief, our doubt, keeps us from the places God wants to take us. One little unforeseen obstacle arises and we're out. Done. Because we'd rather just play it safe. We'd rather not risk it because our finite minds cannot comprehend another way around it. But the thing is, if God desires to lead us there, He'll help us overcome the obstacle. However, it's up to you to keep walking in faith. It's up to you to be a Joshua or a Caleb. To go where God is leading even if it isn't the popular vote. To be obedient even if the majority doesn't follow. Because it's not about them and what they do, it's about you. It's about you and God and whether or not you are going to be a person of courage, of honor, of great faith, and of obedience. Only you can decide to live a life like that.
So are you willing to risk it? To risk being the minority rather than the majority? Are you willing to go against the culture, against the trend, and be obedient rather than popular? Are you really going to believe God and continue to follow Him even if it seems like the obstacles are big and your chances are slim? Will you be the one who stands out or the one who blends in? Will you be the one who gets to experience the blessing of getting to dwell in the Promised Land or will you choose to live and die in the wilderness?
It's your decision.
#648 - Because He helps us overcome obstacles so that we can dwell in the Promised Land.
"If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” - Numbers 14:8-9
In Numbers 13, Moses sends 12 men, one from each tribe, to check out the Promised Land. They were heading in as scouts and were to return with a report of what they saw. It's easy for me to forget that we're dealing with a nation here. I think of them trekking through the dessert in a little caravan, but that wasn't the case. Each tribe had thousands of members, and so these men were individually representing thousands of people. When you think of it that way, then you realize that these men were obviously the leaders of the leaders in their tribe. This wasn't done on a volunteer basis. No, each of these men were picked out and I have to believe it was for good reason. I'm sure these were men of obvious faith. Men who had great character and leadership skills. These had to have been brave men who were honored among their tribe. Men who had stepped up and been noticed along the way. And so these men were entrusted with a really big mission.
The twelve come back and they give a report of how incredible the Promised Land is. It was everything God had told them it would be. They brought back fruit as proof of the prosperity and abundance of the land. Yet as the finished up their report, they mentioned the giants that lived there. Despite all of the incredible things they saw, plus knowing that God had already picked this land out for them, 10 of the men decided that it wasn't a good idea to move in. Ten of these men essentially decided that this nation should skip out on God's blessing and be completely disobedient. They persuaded thousands upon thousands of people to doubt God, to question His plan, simply because of their fears. But there were 2 who thought differently. Two men who recognized that the giants did live there, but also realized that they had God on their side. Two men who were brave enough to stand in front of a whole nation and go against the popular vote. Because these men were men of authentic, true, faith. Men who trusted God and remembered His power. Men who believe God when He said He on their side. And men who were willing to risk their lives to be obedient and follow God's will.
These men were the only two who got to experience God's blessings out of the whole group. That entire Israelite nation continued to wander in the wilderness until every last one died before God allowed them to enter the Promised Land. And I realized as I read this how often our unbelief, our doubt, keeps us from the places God wants to take us. One little unforeseen obstacle arises and we're out. Done. Because we'd rather just play it safe. We'd rather not risk it because our finite minds cannot comprehend another way around it. But the thing is, if God desires to lead us there, He'll help us overcome the obstacle. However, it's up to you to keep walking in faith. It's up to you to be a Joshua or a Caleb. To go where God is leading even if it isn't the popular vote. To be obedient even if the majority doesn't follow. Because it's not about them and what they do, it's about you. It's about you and God and whether or not you are going to be a person of courage, of honor, of great faith, and of obedience. Only you can decide to live a life like that.
So are you willing to risk it? To risk being the minority rather than the majority? Are you willing to go against the culture, against the trend, and be obedient rather than popular? Are you really going to believe God and continue to follow Him even if it seems like the obstacles are big and your chances are slim? Will you be the one who stands out or the one who blends in? Will you be the one who gets to experience the blessing of getting to dwell in the Promised Land or will you choose to live and die in the wilderness?
It's your decision.
#648 - Because He helps us overcome obstacles so that we can dwell in the Promised Land.
"If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” - Numbers 14:8-9
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