Numbers 14:1-4 “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Isarel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”
Numbers 14:6-10 “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.”
Moses sent twelve spies into the promised land to scout it out before the masses were to enter in. All of them recognized that it was a glorious land of provision and prosperity. Ten of the spies, however, were transfixed on the burdens, the challenges, and the threats that they saw as insurmountable. Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, knew that their Lord was able to overcome the burdens, and the challenges, and the threats, and that the magnificent riches that awaited them only required the faithfulness of God’s people.
Siding with fear over faith was rightfully described as rebellion against God.
The faithless response of God’s people was stifling. They conspired to murder Caleb and Joshua – the ones who had brought them the good news. Additionally, they launched a plan to return to slavery and servitude at the hands of the Egyptians. Their rebellious spirit magnified their vision of the burdens, challenges, and threats, and minimized their ability to see the plans of their all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God. As a result, they were condemned to wander in the wilderness for the next four decades.
In our lives, we must have positive influences that help us keep our eyes on the provision and prosperity provided by Providence. Yet, it is easy to fall into the trap and temptation that would cause us to magnify the burdens, challenges, and threats while minimizing our ability to see the plans of our all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God. We must remember that siding with fear over faith is rightfully considered as rebellion against God.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO FAITHFULLY LOOK PAST THE BURDENS, THE CHALLENGES AND THE THREATS TO THE MAGNIFICENCE OF OUR MIGHTY LORD. We are far better off faithfully following Him than endlessly wandering in the wilderness because of our rebellious fear.
ADMIN: I won’t be posting a PLUS next Saturday, and will return with a post on June 7th. In the meanwhile, please keep praying for our great nation!
