Day 44
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| Death and Wondering in the Wilderness for 40 years |
Observation
At the Lord’s command, Moses selects one man from each tribe to form a spying party and survey the land of Canaan. They return forty days later having all seen the same thing but with a divided opinion as to what it means. The majority opinion: “The people are too strong for us.” The minority opinion: “We shall surely conquer.” Disheartened and faithless, the people threaten to stone Moses and return to Egypt rather than face what seems to them certain massacre. God’s punishment upon their unbelief is severe: one year of wilderness wandering for each day the spies were in the land—and death in the wilderness for that entire generation. And yet God would ultimately bring them into the land, they could be sure of this because the law he gave them contained instructions for living in the land.
Application
Two bricklayers were asked what they were doing. The first replied, “I’m laying bricks”; the second, “I’m building a great cathedral.” Same task, same bricks, two thoroughly different perspectives!
On the verge of entering a land promised to Abraham more than six centuries before, the Israelites were faced with the spies’ report. The land is good, it flows with milk and honey, it also overflows with fortified cities and giants! Obviously, there could be only one response—“Let’s go!” The question was which direction. Joshua and Caleb responded with faith: “Let’s go forward!” The other ten spies responded by feeling: “Let’s go back to Egypt!” Majority opinion prevailed and Israel traced circles in the desert for forty years.
Where is God stretching your faith today? “Spy out” your situation and make a list of what you see. Then ask yourself two questions: “How could I respond to this without faith? How should I respond to this in faith?” Then do the things that pleases God.
On the verge of entering a land promised to Abraham more than six centuries before, the Israelites were faced with the spies’ report. The land is good, it flows with milk and honey, it also overflows with fortified cities and giants! Obviously, there could be only one response—“Let’s go!” The question was which direction. Joshua and Caleb responded with faith: “Let’s go forward!” The other ten spies responded by feeling: “Let’s go back to Egypt!” Majority opinion prevailed and Israel traced circles in the desert for forty years.
Where is God stretching your faith today? “Spy out” your situation and make a list of what you see. Then ask yourself two questions: “How could I respond to this without faith? How should I respond to this in faith?” Then do the things that pleases God.
Prayer
Oh Lord, we don’t want to be among those of little or no faith. We want to step out on your word trusting and believing that if you said it, it is so. Strengthen our faith oh Lord and we will be so careful to give you the praise, the honor and the glory! In Jesus name, amen!
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| If only they had faith like the minority--Joshua and Caleb! |
© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2019
