When God makes a promise

The children of Israel had been promised a land that flowed with milk and honey. Knowing the history of their captivity and slavery, and the miracles of God which were evident in their escape, would make a person think they were ready to receive the land. Then they got in the way of themselves.  

Numbers 13 tells the story of Moses sending men to explore the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. Each of the twelve tribes was represented by one of its leaders being selected to be a scout, and to bring back a full report on what they saw. Those twelve men were in the land for forty days with instructions to bring back a description of the soil, the people, the cities and their fortification, and everything of importance.  

After their journey they came back to Moses and Aaron as well as the entire community to let them know what was ahead.  They reported that it really is a magnificent country. They brought some of the fruit they had gathered as proof. Their description of the land was so great they, too, described it as a land flowing with milk and honey. But the people there were powerful and the cities were surrounded by protective walls. Even the people there were huge. Their men were strong. 

Caleb was a man of encouragement when he told them, "We can certainly conquer it.  Let's go quickly and take it."  But there were some who were not so convinced of their ability to achieve victory.  They used phrases like, "If we go up against them we will be defeated. They are so much stronger than us."

The Bible describes the latter group's assessment by saying these men spread discouraging reports about the land among the Israelites.  They kept reminding everyone about those giant people  by saying, "We felt like grasshoppers when we stood next to them." 

So what would you do?  Would you go in and fight for the land, thinking of the rewards of victory, or would you grumble and complain about the enemy and how big they were, not to mention the fortification of their cities? In the Bible story, the count was 10 against and 2 for taking the land.  Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve than could see victory on the horizon.

You need to read Numbers 14 to see how the story turns out. The point I wish to make is this: All this squabbling about their impending defeat versus their victory, and the conflicting reports from the leaders of the twelve tribes, and only two of them mentioned the obvious. This was the Promised Land. It was called the Promised Land because God had promised his people it would be theirs. 

What about the promises God has made to us?  The disbelief and quarrelling of the Israelites should be an example to us. If God promised the land, then he fully intends to make good on that promise. There may be battles, setbacks, problems, and difficulty constantly facing us, but if God makes the promise, he keeps the promise. We will continually have those among us spreading  discouraging reports. Trusting in God and remaining faithful and loyal to him, is the only way we will reap the rewards of his promises.

 

<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>