‘They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” ‘ Numbers 13:26-29
This week Pastor Jagger Eastman from Crosspoint Church South Crestview Campus continued the Sermon Series, Preparation for Promise. Here are links to the last couple of messages from this series:
A quick summary up to this point is that the Israelites are in the wilderness, and God is preparing them to enter the Promised land. Like us and our walk with Jesus, we are in a foreign land or the wilderness. As followers of Jesus, He works on our hearts, preparing us to spend eternity with Him.
Here we find the Israelites before the Promised Land. Moses sent out scouts to check out the land God promised them, and the scouts came with their reports.
The news started great: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.” They brought back fruit from the land, and it was good.
When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. Numbers 13:23
Now I don’t know about you, but I love grapes. But how big were those grapes that had to be carried by two men on a pole? Were they softball size or bowling ball size? No matter their size, I’m sure I would have to adjust my serving size.
As the report came back, it started very promisingly.
‘They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. ‘ Numbers 13:26-27
It was just like the Lord had promised. The Promised land was flowing with milk and honey.
I’m guessing that Moses was encouraged by this news. BUT…
‘But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” ‘ Numbers 13:28-29
The scouts reported that the people were too big for them to conquer. Their report had turned fearful.
Before my mom passed away, I used to run all of my big ideas to her. And nine times out of ten, she would cut my plans to pieces, leaving me very discouraged and angry. And I would not execute the ideas that I thought were great.
I repeated this with my mother repeatedly until she passed away.
It wasn’t until about a year after her death that I realized she was trying to protect me. She didn’t want me to fail and be hurt.
The sad part about this is that I realized I would bring my ideas to her, knowing she would do what she does so that I could stay in the status quo.
I knew that if I brought her my idea that she would talk me out of doing it. I was afraid to step out, and I knew my mom would give me a reason not to.
When you look a little deeper into this story, you will find that it was the people who talked Moses into sending out the scouts to survey the land.
Then, as the LORD our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful wilderness that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea. Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.” The idea seemed good to me; so I selected twelve of you, one man from each tribe. They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshkol and explored it. Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.” Deuteronomy 1:19-25 NIV
God said, “Go take the land.” (Faith)
‘Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” ‘ Numbers 13:30
Caleb was the single voice that wanted to do God’s will. He was ready to “Go take the land.”
The people said, “Let’s send out spies first.” (Fear)
God wants our willing obedience. He is not going to force us to do anything. When we don’t act on the promptings of the Spirit, we are forfeiting the blessing that He has in store for us on this earth and for the rest of eternity.
‘But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”’ Numbers 13:31-33
But Caleb was silenced by the other scouts’ voices and fears. And the people followed suit. As we walk in this life, sometimes we should keep our plans to the small group of people who will support us in our walk.
Suppose you don’t have a group of people around you now. Start to develop that group now.
‘So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ Matthew 6:31-34
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
The time to act on the prompting of the Spirit is when He first gives us the prompting. If we allow too much time to pass or send out the scouts, the desire to do what the Spirit has suggested will cool off, and we will not do it.
What holds us back is fear.
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of what others will think or say about us
- Fear of change
‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ‘ 1 John 4:18
Here are a couple of questions to consider:
- What has God asked you to do?
- What challenges might you face? Remember that if God has brought you there, He will get you through it.
- Will you obey God anyway? God will deliver every time.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise.
I pray that You give me the courage, strength, and ability to do Your will instead of my own.
I thank You for the people You put around me; I pray that they see Jesus through my attitude, words, and actions.
I pray that through the change others see in me, You are glorified in every way.
Thank You for Your promise.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
