Tuesday, May 3, 2022
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. Numbers 13:1-2a
When Fear Steals Your Promised Land
The Children of Israel, wandering in the desert for so long, finally made it to the outskirts of the Promised Land. Moses chose the men to send in to search out the land.
He asked them to find out specific things about the land:
- Are the people strong or weak? Are there few or many?
- Is the land good or bad? Rich or poor? Are there trees?
- Are the cities camps or strongholds?
It was the time for the grapes to be in season, so he asked them to also bring back fruit, because fruit is a great overall picture of the abundance of the land. The spies did as Moses asked and came back to report on the land.
The spies returned from the Promised Land with a classic answer: We went into the land to which you sent us, and it 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. The spies gloss right over the report of the land flowing with milk and honey and then move right into the size of the people and their cities. These are questions Moses asked to be answered, but the three-letter word separating the two reports is the three-letter word that stops us in our tracks sometimes too. But. But – I don’t know how. But – I am not equipped. But – If I do that, this may happen. But – it is a big risk. But...
Fear. If you look back at the passage at the top, there is this really important part of the scripture: which I am giving to the people of Israel. This land was already theirs. God had already promised them this very land, flowing with milk and honey, and trembling with the steps of giants. Caleb, one of the spies, spoke up and said they should go and take possession of the land, but the other spies (except for one other - Joshua) said the people were too big and they could never take the land from them. That little three letter word, but, was standing between them and what God had already promised them. They just needed to step up and claim it. They had a battle ahead, bu tGod was with them.
What keeps you from taking the promised land God has promised you? Is that three letter word stopping you too? Don’t let the word but or fear keep you from claiming what God has already give you.
Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8
