Today’s Reading: Numbers 13–14:19; Psalm 57

Now the Lord told Moses to send out men into the land of Canaan to explore the land. Twelve men were chosen, one leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

“See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” — Numbers 13:18-20

The men came back and reported what they had found, and they brought back the fruit of the land to show Moses. It took two men to carry a single cluster of grapes. The land was indeed flowing with milk and honey and the fruit was luscious, but the people were powerful and the cities fortified. They celebrated the bounty of the land but also worried about the size of the men in Canaan, calling them “giants”.

THEY CHOSE FEAR INSTEAD OF FAITH.

God was blessing them with a wonderful opportunity — the fulfillment of His promise to them. God had proven to them that He was both their protector and their provider, yet they lacked the faith to step forward in obedience. Thankfully two of the spies saw the size of their God rather than the size of their enemy.

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers and that’s what they thought, too!” – Numbers 13:30-33

The tone set by these men had an impact on God’s people, who began to weep and protest what they believed to be their future against these giants who stood between them and the promises of God. But Joshua and Caleb spoke up: “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:7-9)

Instead of being strengthened by the confidence of Joshua and Caleb, God’s people started planning how they would stone these two leaders. God was angry with the people for once again living in fear instead of faith. They questioned both the power of God and the faithfulness of God to keep His promise to them. Instead of giving God the battles ahead, they whined and complained against God. They looked back at their old life with a longing to return to the way things used to be (slavery in Egypt) instead of trusting in God for a better future. God was ready to destroy the Hebrews with a plague, but once again Moses intervened and prayed for God to forgive His people.

“Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty…In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people…’” – Numbers 14:17-19

We serve a God of compassion who was once again willing to look past the doubt of many to see the faith of a few. God recognized in Caleb a different spirit. He saw that Caleb followed him wholeheartedly. Because of their faith in God, Caleb and Joshua would be the only adults over twenty years old who would enter into the land of Canaan.

WHEN OTHERS CHOSE FEAR, THEY CHOSE FAITH.

So do I tend to be more like Caleb and Joshua, or do I fall into a panic like the other spies? Where am I on my faith journey? Do I have the tendency to back away from difficult situations and tough conversations, or do I respond to the Spirit’s leading regardless of my fear or discomfort? Do I choose to live in fear or in faith? I want to be like Caleb, one who has a different spirit and follows the Lord with all my heart – living in faith and not fear.

In 2018, Hillsong Worship came out with a song that beautifully speaks to this confident faith we can have in God, even in our times of uncertainty or fear. I encourage you this morning to let these words of faith wash over you: Be still and know / That the Lord is in control / Be still my soul / Stand and watch as giants fall / I won’t be afraid if you are here / You silence all my fear / I won’t be afraid / You don’t let go / Be still my heart and know / I won’t be afraid [Be Still, Hillsong Worship]

My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. – Psalm 57:7-10