I was reading in the book of Numbers today. The account of the 12 spies that were sent out to check out Canaan is here. Chapters 13 and 14. Numbers 13:1, 2 - And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them."
The guys were chosen, and most of us know the story how Joshua and Caleb were among them.
Upon returning they were asked for a report of their mission.
A spokesperson started in verse 22 saying: -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. THEN he began to innumerate all the reasons why they COULD NOT take the land.
At that point Caleb spoke up to say: in vs. 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."
God made provision for them to take it and Joshua and Caleb KNEW that regardless of the potential difficulties they saw, with God WITH THEM, they were all well able to overcome them.
In Numbers 31-33 the other 10 fellows began to, again, make a case as to why they could NOT take the land. They gave a bad report - an evil report.
These people were amazing.....ungrateful, unthankful, disbelieving, crying and belly aching AGAIN. This was by no means the first time they voiced these things.
Numbers 14:1- 5 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! "Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
BUT - vs. 6-10 says: But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' "Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.
GOD WAS FED UP WITH THIS UNGRATEFUL LOT OF PEOPLE. He'd shown Himself strong on their behalf to DELIVER them, to KEEP them, to PROTECT them, to miraculously FEED them, showing MIRACLE after MIRACLE of His saving and keeping POWER.
Numbers 14:11, 12 - Then the LORD said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? "I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they."
God wanted to scrap the whole bunch of them, kill them and start over with Moses.
We know how Moses entreated the Lord and INTERCEDED for them.
But the consequences of their UNBELIEF was a death sentence. They'd not make it out of the desert alive and never see the PROMISED Land. Only those young whipper snappers, Joshua and Caleb and those 20 years of age and younger would journey there.....Alive, with THANKFUL and GLAD hearts for what the LORD HAD DONE FOR THEM.
There's a lot to be said about UNBELIEF
It caused me to remember that place over in:
Heb. 3:12 that says: Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. verse 19 says: So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb. 10:38 - Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
The devil is one sly dog, huh?
Heb. 3:12 that says: Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. verse 19 says: So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb. 10:38 - Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
The devil is one sly dog, huh?
What lies does the devil tell you about God and His Word. We are to put them under our feet, and not consider them. We are WELL ABLE to believe and receive what God has PROMISED US.
I ask GOD to HELP us BELIEVE HIM...BELIEVE HIS WORD. HIS PROMISES are yea and amen to all of them. We will NOT have an evil heart of unbelief, In the Name of Jesus.
