Numbers 13:25-31
25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned 26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. 27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea[a] and along the Jordan Valley.”
30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”
The Lord had delivered His children from slavery in Egypt.
He was with them as they wandered in the desert.
And He was bringing them into a new land…He promised.
After the 12 returned from their scouting adventure, they gave their report to Moses and the people. They all agreed on what they saw: milk, honey andgiants. But their responses were divided:
2 of the men were filled with faith.
10 were filled with fear.
The report of the majority infected the ENTIRE community. By believing what the 10 said, the children of Israel doubted what God had said. Subsequently, they were willing to go back to bondage or just die in the wilderness! Paralyzed by fear, they refused to fight the giants in order to claim the land God promised to them. Witnessing the massive pity party, Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes in deep grief, pleading with their brothers and sisters to NOT rebel against the Lord- and NOT be afraid of the people!!!
We’re currently facing the same test of faith.
A roadblock I continue to encounter in the wilderness, between Egypt and the promised land, is the fear of man. Being non-creative and unclever, it’s a tactic the enemy has used over and over again since my childhood. He’s convinced people- family and friends- even fellow Israelites to speak things which cause me to doubt what God has said. Most of the time, it’s very subtle and difficult to understand in the natural. But He is always faithful! When I ask the Holy Spirit for supernatural help, He gives me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. Only then can I recognize the lies, be set free by the Truth, and extend forgiveness to those who didn’t know what they were saying.
God promised us a new land 7 years ago.
He sent us to scout it out.
We saw the milk and honey.
We saw the giants.
And…we heard reports from the 10:
“Did God really say to move to Florida?”
“Did God really sayto live in Lakeland?”
“Did God really say to relocate to be a part of a CHURCH?”
“Did God really say to leave your entire extended family?”
“Did God really say to close the ministry & stop meeting (church @ home)?”
“Florida is so dang hot… they have LOTS of hurricanes- and alligators!”
“Lakeland is a terrible town….and it’s not near the beach.”
“There’s no perfect church…why not just stay here?”
“Family is everything….I can’t believe you’d abandon them.”
“You invested so much in your ministry…it’s a waste to give it up.”
Yep. There’s been a lot of chatter in the community.
But we’re going with the minority report.
We believe what God said.
So, it’s time to prepare for battle…. because we’re following Him into the land HE promised!
Deep Into the Water 