Numbers 13 and 14

"We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes." Numbers 13:3b
"If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us-The Lord is with us.  Do not be afraid of them."  Numbers 14:8-9

If we put our trust in the Lord and follow His leading for our lives, we need to fear nothing.  He will protect us, and He will be with us at all times.  The Lord has a perfect plan for our lives, and we can rest unafraid and at peace in our Lord.

In Numbers thirteen and fourteen God's Old Testament people, the Israelites, were at the border of the land of Canaan.  It was God's will for His Old Testament people that Canaan would become their new homeland.  Before they were to go in and possess the land, however, God said, "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.  From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders." (Numbers 13:2)  Because of God's command twelve spies were sent out to search out the land of Canaan,

The spies found the land of Canaan to be a very fruitful land.  In fact, at one point in their explorations of the land "they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes.  Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs." (Numbers 13:23) The size of this grape cluster alone should have indicated to the spies the goodness and trustworthiness of the Lord who had promised to give them this new land.  What an exciting and encouraging report about God's provision and goodness these spies could have brought back to God's people.

Sadly, this is not what happened, however.  Two of the spies did bring back an encouraging report, but ten of the spies returned defeated and fearful.  These spies said, "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it did flow with milk and honey!  Here is the fruit.  But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large." (Numbers 13:27-28)

Caleb, one of the good spies, tried to encourage the people; but the ten spies continued to insist that God's people could not go in and possess the land.  They said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are---- All the people we saw there are of great size---We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." (Numbers 13:31,32b-33)

The two faithful spies continued to try to encourage the people and said, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.  If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us---The Lord is with us.  Do not be afraid of them." (Numbers 14:7b-9)  The people chose to heed the words of the ten spies and to ignore the words of the two spies, however.  Hence, because they lacked faith in the Lord's provision; God's people had to wander around in the wilderness for forty years.  It was not until that generation died and their children were grown that God's people were able to enter and possess the land of Canaan.

Are you and I looking at the giants in our lives, or are we looking at our Lord who can overcome the giants in our lives?  Ten of the Old Testament spies looked at the giants of the land and were overcome with fear.  Two of the Old Testament spies saw the same giants of that land, but they looked to their God in faith.  They knew the giants of the land were large, but they also knew they served a God who was far greater than any giant.  They also knew they served a God who was faithful to His promises to always be with His people.  Relying on our own resources causes us to see the giants in our lives.  If we are looking to the Lord in faith and resting in Him, however; we have certain victory over the giants of our lives.  Our God is faithful!