Numbers 13:17-20 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.
When we balance this chapter with Deuteronomy 1, we find that these scouts did not go into the land on a mission from God, but they went into the land on a mission from the people of Israel. We should not be surprised then that their report is based on a human perspective and not according to God’s perspective. Their report was this: The land was as God had said it was, a land flowing with milk and honey and all the people saw the fruit that they brought back to prove it. The scouts must have eaten a lot of those grapes, pomegranates and figs while they were in the land because they came back with big BUTS. They report that the land is as God says BUT there are giants in the land.
How often do we do this? “God, I know you told me to do this, but …” or “I know I should be doing this, but …” or “I know I am called to do this, but …” The hurdles are too high, the obstacles too many, the bank account too small, my ability is not enough. You know what? If that’s the case, then you are in a perfect position to let go and let God. God is bigger than any giant, stronger than any obstacle, able to provide funds or to work without funds, and He is the supplier of our ability. You’re not big enough, strong enough, rich enough, educated enough, skilled enough … then you are just the kind of person God uses. But you need to get your eyes off the problems and place them on God.
2 Chronicles 20:12 (NKJV) For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Advance or retreat? Worry about giants or let God make you a giant killer? Too often Christians assume the path of least resistance is the one that God has ordained … if it’s of God, all the doors will be opened and the waters will part. More often, though, it’s the path of greatest resistance that is God’s ordained path. Think about it … for one thing, God tests faith. For another, God desires to show Himself strong on our behalf. Finally, Satan is going to heavily defend the way we should go to try to force us to go the way he wants us to go, which will be the easier path. There is a military tactic in which the center of a line of soldiers will retreat creating an easy path for opposing forces to take. When they take the easy path they soon find themselves surrounded by their enemy. If you are following God and life is easy and there’s no obstacles, then you’re either where the enemy wants you to be … or your standing still.
Caleb had the right perspective … when the others are saying it’s crazy to move forward, Caleb, says, “Let’s go!” “Let’s do this thing!” That’s because His eyes were on God while the others had their eyes on the obstacles. The last statement of chapter 13 says it all …
Numbers 13:33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
They were like grasshoppers in their own sight and so they were in the sight of the giants. That’s two points of view, man’s point of view and the giant’s point of view … but it leaves out God’s point of view. God’s point of view is given to us in Isaiah 40 …
Isaiah 40:22 God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.
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