Last night I was reading to my girls their children's Bible. We read about Caleb and Joshua, the two spies who, along with ten other spies, went to spy out the land of Canaan as the Lord commanded. I have always liked this passage ever since I was a child. I loved that they did not give in to their fears and they trusted the Lord relentlessly. Not to mention, I always wanted to be a spy...
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “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.”
- Numbers 13:1
So, they went. And when they returned, they gave a report:
"We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities arefortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”
- Numbers 13:27-29
I can't help but notice the first verse affirms the promise of the Lord so clearly. How wonderful!!! They see that the Lord's promise of a land flowing with milk and honey is ever so true!
Then . . . comes the word "Nevertheless." In other words, b u t . . . .
It's like they are saying really fast, "It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit." Then, they quickly get to the bad news and reveal in in detail. They squash any joy that might be rising up in the people. They want to be sure there is no chance of trying to go into the land. Fear has already overtaken the spies
I imagine it like this:
They return. Everyone is excited and anxious to hear of the land the Lord had promised them. How close it is to their grasp! They can finally get out of this awful desert.
The spies: The land is awesome! Flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of the fruit we found.
The Israelites: Wow! So yummy! (their eyes wide and hearts start to beat faster)
The spies: But!!! The people there are huge and buff. Their buildings are massive and invincible. There are enemies EVERYWHERE!
The Israelites: Oh, no. There is no way we are going in there! Uh uh. No Way.
The thing is, God had already promised them this land:
"And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey."
- Exodus 3:17
But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
- Leviticus 20:24
God reiterates this to Moses even when He tells Moses to gather spies:
"The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites."
-Numbers 13:1a
God is GIVING them this land! There is no question.
One might ask, "Why did the Lord ask them to spy it out then?"
I believe it is so they will better know the great work of the Lord. To know how majestic and mighty He is and to confirm that it is His deliverance they will experience.
Remember, they had just been delivered out from the tyranny and slavery of Egypt where they had been slaves for 400 years! They weren't just delivered, they were miraculously and amazingly delivered: the ten plagues, the Egyptians showering them with gifts on their way out, the pillar of smoke and pillar of fire leading them, the Red Sea divided into walls of water, the Egyptians defeated without their having to fight at all.
They were fed with quail coming in on the wind in droves to be caught so easily every evening.
Fresh manna provided every single day.
Bitter water made sweet.
Fire from the Lord consuming parts of their camp. . .
The Lord seemed to be testing their faith.
Let's see the response of Caleb:
"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
- Numbers 13:30
Caleb passes with flying colors. He knows that any victory or provision they have had was always from the Lord. Not because of their ability or their odds. Are you kidding? They were a dead people long before without the Lord! So quickly were the works of the Lord in their lives forgotten.
But, the Israelites grumbled and complained, then . . .
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 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. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.
But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.
- Numbers 14:6-9,10
***
Well, what I walked away with last night is this: I believe today we have a promised land the Lord has provided for all believers. A land of peace and flowing with milk and honey. And, I believe it is the land of being in His will.
If the Israelites had just trusted the Lord's promise and His provisions they would have been spared 40 years of wandering, death, and running from their enemies. Instead, they chose to allow fear to run their lives and forsook the blessings of the Lord.
When we are in His will, in other words, when we are where He wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do, there is peace and utter provision from the Lord. There is no want except for want of more of the Lord! There is great fulfillment and joy. There is the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Because of this, I should not fear for my children. I should not fear the terror of men. I should not fear dirty and ugly and inconvenient environments, because walking with the Lord in His will is better than anything I can attain otherwise. All of the inconveniences I can experience pale in comparison with the provision and greatness of the Lord.
Why would I forsake the promised land of the Lord for comfort or because of fear? There in no safer place than in His will. There is no greater place of blessing than in His will!!!
I must remember this and welcome His leading, no matter where it leads.
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