Kristen Grossman Prose

[The land] 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. Numbers 13:27-28

When Moses sent a leader from each of the ancestral tribes into Canaan, he instructed them to take note of the land and the people. The spies were to scrutinize the land, noticing whether it was rich and fertile or rocky and barren. Moses asked for a report on whether the cities were well-fortified or open and unprotected. In preparation for battle, the spies were to document the strength, power, and organization of the people, armies, and rulers they observed there.

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When Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land, it was not to determine whether entering the land and accepting the inheritance God had promised was achievable. Indeed, Moses knew that God would deliver on His promises. The scouts went ahead to bring back information that would assist the Israelites in planning to take possession of the land.

Ten of the spies returned and reported, with fear and trembling, that the cities were heavily guarded and well-protected. They described a bountiful, fertile land populated with giants whose might and strength were so great the Israelites felt like grasshoppers next to them. These ten quivering scouts declared that invading the land was impossible. In response, the Israelite people tore their clothing and talked of returning to slavery in Egypt.

Of the twelve spies, only Joshua and Caleb remembered Who it was they had on their side. They pleaded with the people, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:7-9). Rather than accepting Joshua and Caleb’s report, Numbers 14:10 tells us, “the whole assembly talked about stoning them.”

Today, it is easy for us to look back and judge the Israelites as they stood–so close to achieving the freedom and prosperity God had promised them–peering ahead through a lens of fear rather than faith. Yet, how many do we react to our own circumstances with the anxiety of the ten fearful spies rather than the faith and confidence of Joshua and Caleb?

Scriptures tell us that the Lord forgave the Israelites the doubt that caused them to forget His faithfulness and turn against Him. However, God did not allow them to enter the Promised Land for another 40 years because of their reaction. There were consequences for their lack of faith.

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Friend, I pray that when you and I are called to exercise our faith, we will choose to look at our circumstances through the lens of gratitude and trust rather than fear. May we not miss out on opportunities to witness God’s faithfulness and provision in our own lives.

Dear God, life is scary. We know you are with us. Even so, our human minds can turn to thoughts of fear, doubt, and anxiety. Please remind us to look to you and face life’s circumstances with faith, trust, and the desire to see the great things that you will accomplish in and through us. To you be all glory! Amen.

Reference:

Short, Laurie Polich. 40 Verses to Ignite Your Faith: Surprising Insights from Unexpected Passages. Bethany House Publishers, 2019.