Posted by “The outcomes of life are influenced by the attention we give to either the fear or the faith that accompanies the challenges we face.” – JSP
The influence of fear faith and fellowship on God’s people should not be taken lightly. In Numbers chapter thirteen we see God speaking to the children of Israel camped in the wilderness of Paran.
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, everyone a leader among them.” Num 13:1-2
FEAR
From Numbers 13:3, we see that Moses complies with God’s instructions. “So, Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.”
The men return from their mission after forty days, bringing with them some of the fruit of the land; saying, “It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit” (Num 13:27). What could be more encouraging than seeing the fruit of the land that they brought back?
The spies review of the people dwelling in the land reveals that they were paying too much attention to the fear they carried within them, instead of the faith they would have derived from paying attention God’s promise of giving them the land through their victorious obedience.
The original spies used their imaginations to feed their fears which in turn negatively influenced the people, entertaining their fears eventually cost them the privilege of entering the land God had already given them.
Numbers 14:1 shows the impact of the spies’ fears on the rest of the people: “”So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.”
FAITH
Caleb on the other hand, used his imagination to feed his faith by entertaining all that God had promised, this is what kept him strong in the Lord until God raised up Joshua to lead a new generation to settle into the promised land.
We read of Calebs’ faith toward God in Numbers 13:30. Following the spies’ discouraging remarks, we read, “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
The spies countered Calebs’ faith driven words with some fear driven words of their own saying, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”
FELLOWSHIP
In Joshua 1:8-9 we read, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you?”
After an entire generation expires in the wilderness due their fear and unbelief, God visits Joshua and assures him of the victorious outcomes God has planned for him and the nation of Israel, if Joshua will study God’s word, meditate on it day and night, that he may “observe to do” all that is written it.
What’s interesting to note in Joshua is the fellowship he has with each encounter with God. It serves well to note that Joshua often remained at the tent of meeting in the wilderness whenever Moses returned to the camp (Exodus 33:9-11).
Today, as believers, we are God’s “tent of meeting,” instead of us not departing from the presence of the Lord like Joshua did, God has promised never to depart from us!
In closing, from Genesis through Revelation, we see communication with God as normative. Nowhere in the scriptures do we see God cease communing with His people. The heroes of the faith all had one thing in common, they heard God’s voice.
In the New Testament, we are given the Holy Spirit so that every believer may be guided by the scriptures and the voice of the Spirit who dwells within all of us.
Listen for God’s voice from within you and… Be Encouraged! – JSP
* Featured Image by John S Picarello
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