READ: Numbers 13, 14; Psalm 65; Mark 5:1-20
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 13: 30 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.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
OBSERVATION: At first when we read the report of the men who were sent to spy the promised land, it appears that their report (v.27-29) answers all the questions Moses asked them before they go to Canaan (v.18-20). However, in the second part of their report, they expressed and exaggerated their fear and their weakness as compared to the big sized men of Canaan. They thought that they were small like grasshoppers in front of the Canaanites. In their report, instead of speaking about the great Lord who delivered them from the mighty Egypt and would give strength to possess the promised land, they spoke of their fear about the Canaanites. Their bad report caused chaos, grumbling, and fear among the Israelites. People considered even about their return to Egypt i.e. to slavery. Eventually the bad report resulted in the wrath and punishment of God.
On the other hand, we see the two men who gave the faith report and encouraged the Israelites that not to fear about the Canaanite men and not to rebel against the Lord, and they said "the Lord is with us" (Num.14:7-9) This faith report distinguishes Caleb and Joshua from the 10 men who gave a bad report. We need to remember that the God who is with us is greater than any great persons or things of this world. Our fear of men would lead to destruction, but our faith in God always leads to take possession of the promised things. That was what happened to Joshua and Caleb, except they two all the other people were not able to enter the promised land.
APPLICATION: I may be weak and small as I compare myself with other men and women. However, I should be confident in the fact that the Lord whom I serve is greater than anyone. Instead of looking at other people and things from below, I need to see them how they look like in God 's view. The God who helped me thus far is able to help me till the end. My perspective determines what I think of myself.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your amazing guidance to this day. Help me to see the world like you see it, to speak accordingly the words of faith and to live a life of faith. Oh, the living God! may my words and life encourage others to believe in you and in your words. Amen.
- Arputharaj Samuel
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