Numbers
chapter 13 is one of the most familiar in the whole Bible. Most
Sunday School classes even sing songs about the 12 spies being sent
into the land of Canaan. This chapter speaks directly to us about
trusting God’s Word, or embracing our doubts. The chapter begins
with God telling Moses, “Send
some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am going to give the
Israelites“.
It is interesting to note that Deuteronomy 1:22 suggests that God
simply commanded “Go
take possession the land“,
but the people approached Moses with the suggestion, “Let
us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us“.
Often God allows us to settle for less than His best because we have
free will to choose. Isn’t this what many of us do when we blame God
for our circumstances? We live our lives for years following our own
desires and feelings, and then we expect God to fix our situation
immediately. I believe that God did allow them to send the twelve so
they could see that His word was true. In Deuteronomy 9:23, Moses
even declares, “You
rebelled against the command of the Lord your God; you neither
believed Him or listened to His voice“.
Are you hesitating to follow God’s leading?
Moses
chose 12 men, one from each of the tribes of Israel; “All
of them were leaders among Israel“.
In the instruction Moses gives these spies, perhaps we see his
doubts. “See
what the land is like… whether the people are strong or weak, few
or many… is it good or bad… unwalled or fortified… how is the
soil… are there any trees… bring back some fruit of the land.”
This is so sad because in Exodus 3:8, God had already told Moses it
was, “A
good and spacious land– a land flowing with milk and honey“.
God even told Moses the names of the people already living in the
land! I am reminded of my own salvation experience. Even after I
heard of the forgiveness of my sins through the sacrifice of Christ,
I was not yet ready to call Him Lord. It took some time before I
accepted 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For
you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body“.
Every visit to church was a spy mission until I fully understood
God’s love is unconditional; I could not earn it, nor buy it. God’s
grace is a free gift for all who will receive it.
When
the spies return to the nation of Israel after forty days in the
Promised Land they confirm God’s Word, “It
does flow with milk and honey; here is the fruit“.
But they also find excuses to doubt God’s promise, “The
people there are powerful and their cities are fortified“.
Only Caleb stands firm: “We
should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do
it.”
At that point the doubters increase the level of fear, “The
land we saw devours the people living in it. All of the people we
saw there are of great size… we can’t attack these people.”
In our lives there will always be those who put “giants”
in our way, particularly when we attempt to follow God’s Word. Never
forget the apostle Paul’s words of encouragement, “If
God is for us, who can be against us?”
Whatever decisions are in front of you now, never doubt the truth of
God’s Word. According to Ephesians 3:20, Jesus Christ is “able
to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think“.
Don’t listen to the doubters!