A Blessing From God
Why 40 Years?
Why did the Israeli people have to wander in the desert for 40 years when the journey should have lasted less than 11 days? Faith, not fear should have been their driving force. Unfortunately, the people took their eyes off of God and saw only fear.
Faith, not Fear
God instructed Moses to send one man from each tribe. (Ch.13 v.1-3) And the LORD said to Moses, (v.2) “Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them”
(v.3) So at the consent of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites,…”
What an honor! To be chosen for such a mission. The Israeli people had reached the border of the promised land. All these twelve men had to do was a little reconnaissance, return with some of the fruit of the land, and report to Moses, who then reports to God.
(v.21) So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath. (v.22) They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
(v.23) When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs. (v.24) Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol.
The Reports of the Spies
(v.25) After forty days the men returned from spying out the land, (v.26) and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
(v.27) And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit! (v.28) Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. (v.29) The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
Faith not Fear
(v.30) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”
Fear not Faith
(v.31) But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”
(v.32) So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. (v.33) We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”
This report contains stories of lush green valleys, wide-open pastures, grapes so huge two grown men had to carry it on a pole, and an abundant supply of fresh water. This truly is a land flowing with milk and honey. This land had everything God promised them. All they had to do was have enough faith, not fear in God to take it.
Eyes on the Goal
Instead, the Israelite nation concentrated on the obstacles and not the goal. God, through Moses, led the people out of Egypt. God split the Red Sea. God defeated the entire Egyptian army. God provided for their safe passage through the desert wilderness, and yet they still lacked faith in God.
In my mid-thirties, I was blessed to work with an organization that promoted good behavior centered around Christian morals. One of my mentors used this phrase “Keep your eyes on the goal, and the obstacles will take care of themselves.” This teacher meant never lose sight of your goal, always take steps every day to achieving your objective. If you only see the obstacles in front of you, you will never figure a way to overcome them.
Who Are They?
The Israelites only saw the obstacles. I’m not minimizing the danger. These were actual giants, people who towered over an average man and looked quite intimidating. Let’s not forget the other communities, such as the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amalakites. All had fortified cities, but who are they against God? After all, God defeated the Egyptians; He could have certainly defeated these people as well.
God Never Falters
God is a big God. Our Holy God never falters. He always follows through on His promises. Therefore, we as a people must have faith in God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit to receive the blessings He has given us.
The result of the people’s lack of faith in God cost them greatly. As a result, the entire generation who were fearful died in the wilderness, and they did not enter the promised land.
Only two men from that generation saw the land of milk and honey; Joshua and Caleb. These men gave a good report and had faith in our Lord. They knew He would take care of the Israeli people as they entered the land. They were rewarded by their faith and their patience in our Heavenly Father.
Promise Fulfilled
The following generation, the children of Israel received the blessings of the land. God fulfilled His promise.
The first generation took their eyes off God. This lack of faith prevented them from receiving the blessings that were available to them. Please, in everything you do, keep your Lord and Savior in mind. Let Jesus in prayer guide your decisions. The Son of God wants to bless you greatly. Remember, He is God the Son. He will bless you with things of God, not the carnal trinkets of the world. Do not be deceived.
Seek God. Jesus is right there. Give Him a place in your heart. Have faith, not fear. Your promised land awaites you. Keep the faith, keep your eye on Jesus. Why? Because you are loved.
Please understand there is a difference between “lack of faith” fear and a respectful fear of the Lord. It appears the people of the day were fearful because they doubted God’s ability to protect them, very sad. Every child has a dad. The dad represents strength, stability, discipline, and protection. That’s why fathers are so important in the family. God would have protected them, He also needed to chastise them for their disobedience, as any parent would correct their children.
Your blog is a true masterpiece.
God Bless you Clemmie and thank you for such fine words. The masterpiece is in Jesus, not me. All the credit goes to Him.
You bring complex topics to life effortlessly.
Thank You Earnest. This article can become complicated if you let it. This boils down to belief and faith. I hope your faith has been strengthened by the Holy Spirit by reading this article. Just that simple!
Your blog is a true asset to the online community.
Thank You! I hope that these articles inspire you and anyone else in the online community to pick up and read the Bible.
Your passion for your subject is inspiring.
Thank You Eloisa! Do not be fearful. Remember, what unfolds is part of His plan. Even through adversity we can grow our faith in Him. Please be aware however, difficulties that draw you closer to Jesus are from Him. Problems that pull away are from the enemy of God. Pray for Godly strength and discernment.
Thank You so much Rhoda! I hope this message has blessed you and helped your search for Jesus.
You have a special way with words.
Thank You Reagan. I hope these words have enlightened you and helped you in your walk with Jesus Christ. May God bless you. Seek Him first. You are loved by God. Regardless of what the enemy throws at you or how the world tempts you. Don’t believe the lie. You are loved. Jesus paid for any sins you may have done. He has washed you clean in the eyes of God.
You have a knack for explaining things clearly and concisely, much appreciated.
Thank You! I write what has been inspired by the Holy Spirit that lives within me. Give Him all credit you may have. I am only His servant who wishes to follow Jesus.
I appreciate your commitment to sharing.
Thank You. Share the Gospel. So many of us think we know what Christianity is, however the people don’t open the bible and actually read what Christ, God, or the Holy Spirit had to say. If you wish to learn, read the book. This site was started to so people could get a snippet of the bible and hopefully build interest in the salvation of Jesus Christ. Please learn about Him, research your heart and research the heart of God.
Your writing style is so engaging, I couldn’t stop reading.
Thank you so much! I hope this post has led you closer to Jesus and gives you the peace we all so desperately need at this time. God Bless
I found this article to be quite illuminating. Thanks to your clear and well-structured instructions, I had no trouble following along. Your use of concrete instances to back up your claims is really appreciated. Your generosity in sharing this knowledge is greatly appreciated.
Thank You. Please give God all the credit. I’m only commenting where the Holy Spirit leads. I noticed your link. Please comment on the actual content, As I learn more about your church I may be willing to add your link to this website. The car show is great idea and I pray it’s a wonderful success. God Bless. Keep up the Good Work!
This is a well-written and insightful article. Your detailed explanations and practical examples make it easy to understand and apply the concepts. I appreciate the effort you put into providing such thorough information. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us.
I thank you for your input. Any praise should be given to God. If you like my writing style I give my Lord and Savior credit for all that I may accomplish. I do this for Him and His Glory. Please comment on the article. My hope is to spark interest in the Bible and the message of Jesus Christ. I only accept links to organizations that promote God.
An informative and well-written piece. The principles are easily understood and applied thanks to your thorough explanations and practical examples. Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed information. Your time and knowledge are much appreciated.
I really enjoyed this article. Your writing style is engaging and the information you provided is very useful. The detailed explanations and practical examples made it easy to follow along. Thank you for creating such a valuable resource.
I really enjoyed reading this article. Your clear and concise explanations make it easy to grasp even the more complex topics. I appreciate the effort you put into providing such detailed information. This is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about this subject.
Thank You so much ZaZa recipes. May God be with You always