As Israel approached the land of Canaan Numbers records, "And 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, every one a leader among them. 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." (Number 13:1-2) The spies return and give an exciting report, "Now
they came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the
children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought
back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit
of the land. Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where
you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit." (Numbers 13:26-27)
What a report. The land that God was giving Israel was not barren waste
land, but a vibrant, fruitful land flowing with with milk, honey. In
other words, the land was fertile, able to produce all manner of
vegetation as well as sustain their flocks. This was evidence of what
the Lord had spoken to Moses when He had called Moses to go to Egypt to
deliver Israel from Pharaoh. (Exodus 3:8) However, the physical
confirmation of the Word of the Lord was not enough for ten of the
spies, "Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the
cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of
Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the
Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and
the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan." (Numbers 13:28-29) and "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." (Number 13:33) The results were, all of Israel believed the word of the spies rather than the Word of God.
This same scenario tends to repeat itself in many sectors of the church
today. Many of God's children see life circumstances as giants rather
than ants. They believe the report of their senses rather than believing
what God has said. God spoke to Isaiah and said, "Fear not, for I am
with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10) What a wonderful promise, but do you believe it? You see, we would have much to fear if God did not say, "I am with you." Distress would overtake us if God did not say, "for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." But
again, do you believe this? Is this passage revelation that resonates
in your heart or is it only knowledge that you reason in your head?
When
life circumstances seen like giants is your response similar to
Israel's, "So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried,
and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel
complained against Moses and Aaron... (Numbers 14:1-2) or is it like Joshua and Caleb, "Joshua
the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who
had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the
congregation of the children of Israel, saying: The land we passed
through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in
us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us,'a land which
flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear
the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has
departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." (Numbers 14:6-9) This report sounds like the Word of the Lord to Isaiah, "Do not Fear, the Lord is with us." (Isaiah 46:10)
Jesus tells us how to deal with every giant that comes against the believer that stands in the believers way opposing him/her, "Have
faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this
mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in
his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will
have whatever he says." (Mark 11:22-23) First, we are to exercise God like faith. If you say that it is impossible for a mere person to have the God kind
of faith, then you have just sided against the Word of God and your
results will most likely be the same as Israel's when they sided with
the ten spies rather than the Word of God, they got what they asked for.
(Numbers 14:2-3, 26-30) Next, Jesus tells us that if we can believe the
Word of God, and not doubt that is, believe the reasoning of man or the
lies of Satan, then we would be able to move the mountain (giant) that
we are facing.
This is not something that we try, but something the we live. Faith is
of the spirit and not of the mind. What Jesus is telling us cannot be
comprehended with the mind, although our recreated spirit can fill our
mind with revelation from God's Word. So, if you are facing a situation
or circumstance that seems like a giant, speak to it in the name of
Jesus without doubting and the results are, he will have whatever he says. PTL...
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