Fear is Failure

Author: Joseph

Date: November 25, 2018

The Lord commanded Moses to send out spies into the land of Canaan. They were sent on a mission to view the land of promise and discover its fruitfulness and goodness. One capable leader from each tribe came together to form a group of spies and the twelve of them were commissioned to scout the land ahead and bring back a report.

For forty days they remained in the land of Canaan, observing what they saw and heard, taking from some of the produce, and then finally returning to the encampment of Israel.

The land proved to be very fruitful as the spies even admitted, “it certainly does flow with milk and honey” (Numbers 13:27). They then began to describe the people that lived there, stating they were strong and lived in great fortified cities. Upon hearing this, the people of Israel began to talk among themselves anxiously. Caleb, one of the spies, quieted the people and encouraged them, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). Caleb, along with Joshua, was certain in God’s ability to fulfill His promise.

"...this made them fear."

The other spies disagreed, saying to Israel that they would be unable to overcome the inhabitants of the land. They gave a bad report and discouraged Israel with every word that came from their mouths. Israel then began a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, even trying to appoint a leader to bring them back to Egypt! They greatly feared the inhabitants of the land of promise and even accused God of trying to kill them through warfare by bringing them into the land. Israel was not looking to the strength of God, but only to what they were capable of, and this made them fear.

Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb pleaded with Israel, to encourage them and to have them put their trust in God, but Israel did not listen. The Israelites called on each other to stone these four men who were still wanting to enter the land, but the Lord appeared in His glory before the entire congregation, putting a stop to their rebellion.

God spoke to Moses, wanting to kill off Israel. After Moses pleaded for mercy upon the people, God decided not to kill the rebellious nation. The Lord cursed only that generation of rebellious men so that they would perish during a forty-year wandering in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb would survive from that generation. The rest of Israel, the younger generation of children would be allowed to enter the land of promise. They, too, would have to suffer for forty years in the wilderness because of their fathers’ sins.

Israel, then, in an act of desperation to escape God’s judgment, planned to enter the land of promise. Moses warned them, telling them God was not with them in this act and that they would not be successful. Israel, now seeing their fate in the wilderness, stubbornly did not heed Moses’s words and were defeated in battle and chased out of the land of promise.

When God sets a plan for your life, He will fulfill it. Do not look at the circumstances directly ahead of you and be discouraged by what you see or hear. If God is the one directing your life, He will take you exactly on the right path at exactly the right time. Like Joshua and Caleb, have faith that God can even overcome impossible obstacles. Israel wrongly looked to their own ability to fulfill God’s promise instead of trusting in His ability. They were cursed and defeated because of their lack of faith.

Have faith today and believe in God’s direction for your life. Do not become anxious and fill your heart with disbelief. God can work wonders, but without faith in Him, you will never see His promise.

Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1 – 14:45

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org