Numbers 13:1-3 and 16-33
Let me begin with verse 17 and list the
things that Moses told them they were to do:
1.
“See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or
weak, few or many.”2.”What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad?”
3. “What kind of towns do they live in; are they unwalled or fortified?”
4. “How is the soil; is it fertile or poor?”
5. “Are there trees or not?”
6. “Bring back some of the fruit of the land.
They came back and reported two things: “The land does flow with milk and honey…here are some of the fruit” And “The people who live there are powerful and their cities are fortified and very large”…and there are a lot of “ites” and they are all giants! (my own words)… “We can’t attack those people they are stronger than we are!” And verse 32 says “they spread a bad report about the land they had explored.”
Now let me go back and emphasize what God said to Moses in verse 1 – “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites!” He wasn’t sending them on a mission to decide whether or not to actually possess the land; that had already been decided. They were to go and explore the area that was now to be their new home. The land that God had promised to give them since the days of Abraham. They were to strategize and plan and ultimately follow God’s lead.
Let me apply this to the church. Most often we ask the wrong questions: “Can we make a difference? Can we change this community? Can we have an impact? Do we have what it takes? The real question and the only question that needs to be answered is “Are we going to trust God and plan for the future?”
There are dream makers and dream breakers. In this life there are optimists and pessimists. Optimists focus on what can be: possibilities, opportunities, and potential. They look for the positive; they have the ability to picture something in their mind before it is even started. (vision) Pessimists on the other hand, tend to focus on problems, obstacles, and potential loss. They look for the cloud behind the silver lining. Optimists operate by faith and not by sight; pessimists by sight rather than faith.
Notice that all twelve men saw the same things and yet not all came to the same conclusion. Caleb and Joshua said “Look at the great land the Lord God is giving us!” The rest said “Ya, but…” They saw the walled cities, the giants, and the strong armies facing them, and their conclusion was “We can’t!” Caleb and Joshua saw the same things from God’s perspective; thought about all the things God had done; and decided “Oh yes we can!” How often, when faced with a great challenge in life, are we quick to forget what God has done in the past and what He has promised?
Forty years later Joshua and the people find themselves at the same place, with the same fortified cities, the same giants, the same great armies, and when Joshua tells them God’s crazy sounding plan…they say “Let’s go!” Was it because Joshua was a great warrior? No…Was it because they now had great confidence in their abilities? No…They now had greater confidence in God.
2 Timothy 3 talks about the last days, and it speaks of those who have “a form of godliness, but denying its power”…What about you? Are you a dream maker or a dream breaker when it comes to God’s will for your life or the life of your church?
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