Seeing Giants (First 5)
Jun 23, 2016 8:46:37 GMT -5
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Post by Adrienne on Jun 23, 2016 8:46:37 GMT -5
Seeing Only Giants
Krista Williams
Numbers 13:1-2 (NIV) “The LORD said to Moses, ‘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.’”
Twelve men from Israel were sent out on a strategic fact-finding mission to gather intelligence about the land they were about to conquer. This was the land God promised them and their forefathers for generations. A land flowing with milk and honey. A land full of abundance and blessing for God’s people. And it is extremely crucial to remember, it was a land God Himself was giving them as an everlasting possession.
As a result of their 40-day investigation, they discovered the land was truly all that God had promised. They even returned with a remarkable sample of the fruit for Moses and the people to see. Then they reported the people living in the land were powerful enemies, and their cities were fortified and massive. All good intelligence when you are going into battle.
The Israelites must have begun to discuss this among themselves because Caleb silenced them and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).
That’s when the other ten spies chimed and in essence said, “We can’t do this … we can’t attack them … they’re bigger and stronger … we’ll be devoured in the land … those people are giants … we seemed like tiny little grasshoppers in our own eyes next to them!”
It’s Caleb’s word against the overwhelming majority. And the spies spread a bad report among the people of Israel, stirring up fear and unbelief.
Unbelief almost always underestimates God and magnifies our personal weakness and problems. Unbelief sees only giants, problems, impossibility and obstacles. Unbelief leaves God out of the equation and never acts or stands firm on the truth of God’s Word.
But Caleb believed God and was ready to respond in faith. Instead of approaching the situation from a worldly perspective, he was prepared to walk by faith and not by sight. Trusting God and His Word even when things didn’t make human sense. And Caleb was willing to do it even when the majority was not.
I wonder … what seemingly impossible situation are you facing in your life today? What is your “mission impossible”? Are you seeing only giants?
With God all things are possible. Your impossibilities and mine are really opportunities to trust God and believe His Word. They are opportunities to experience God’s power and faithfulness in our lives.
Instead of believing the “majority report,” what if we believed God?
Prayer: Almighty God, I confess, oftentimes my first response is to think, “This is impossible. I can’t do this.” When I do, it’s because I’m only seeing giants, obstacles and problems. I’m putting the focus on me and not You. Lord, I want to see You. I want to have Your perspective in every situation. I want to be a person who walks by faith and not by sight. Give me the courage to trust You and Your Word even when life doesn’t make sense. In Jesus’ name, amen.
More Moments: Have you ever heard the phrase, “Looks are deceiving”? The majority was deceived by the way things looked from their perspective. But Caleb was not deceived. Read More
My Moment: What are you doing, or could you be doing, to help others believe God’s Word and trust Him? Do you give a good report? Is there some area where like the majority you are encouraging unbelief?
Krista Williams
Numbers 13:1-2 (NIV) “The LORD said to Moses, ‘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.’”
Twelve men from Israel were sent out on a strategic fact-finding mission to gather intelligence about the land they were about to conquer. This was the land God promised them and their forefathers for generations. A land flowing with milk and honey. A land full of abundance and blessing for God’s people. And it is extremely crucial to remember, it was a land God Himself was giving them as an everlasting possession.
As a result of their 40-day investigation, they discovered the land was truly all that God had promised. They even returned with a remarkable sample of the fruit for Moses and the people to see. Then they reported the people living in the land were powerful enemies, and their cities were fortified and massive. All good intelligence when you are going into battle.
The Israelites must have begun to discuss this among themselves because Caleb silenced them and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).
That’s when the other ten spies chimed and in essence said, “We can’t do this … we can’t attack them … they’re bigger and stronger … we’ll be devoured in the land … those people are giants … we seemed like tiny little grasshoppers in our own eyes next to them!”
It’s Caleb’s word against the overwhelming majority. And the spies spread a bad report among the people of Israel, stirring up fear and unbelief.
Unbelief almost always underestimates God and magnifies our personal weakness and problems. Unbelief sees only giants, problems, impossibility and obstacles. Unbelief leaves God out of the equation and never acts or stands firm on the truth of God’s Word.
But Caleb believed God and was ready to respond in faith. Instead of approaching the situation from a worldly perspective, he was prepared to walk by faith and not by sight. Trusting God and His Word even when things didn’t make human sense. And Caleb was willing to do it even when the majority was not.
I wonder … what seemingly impossible situation are you facing in your life today? What is your “mission impossible”? Are you seeing only giants?
With God all things are possible. Your impossibilities and mine are really opportunities to trust God and believe His Word. They are opportunities to experience God’s power and faithfulness in our lives.
Instead of believing the “majority report,” what if we believed God?
Prayer: Almighty God, I confess, oftentimes my first response is to think, “This is impossible. I can’t do this.” When I do, it’s because I’m only seeing giants, obstacles and problems. I’m putting the focus on me and not You. Lord, I want to see You. I want to have Your perspective in every situation. I want to be a person who walks by faith and not by sight. Give me the courage to trust You and Your Word even when life doesn’t make sense. In Jesus’ name, amen.
More Moments: Have you ever heard the phrase, “Looks are deceiving”? The majority was deceived by the way things looked from their perspective. But Caleb was not deceived. Read More
My Moment: What are you doing, or could you be doing, to help others believe God’s Word and trust Him? Do you give a good report? Is there some area where like the majority you are encouraging unbelief?