Numbers 13

 

 

Israel's Army Engulfed in Unbelief (Numbers 13:25-33)

 

Numbers 13:33 (NIV): "We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim).

We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

 

Numbers chapter 13 describes sending 12 spies to the land of Canaan and receiving their report. In today's passage, verse 2, God clearly said

about the land of Canaan, "the land I am giving to the Israelites." This means that regardless of Israel's reconnaissance, it was the land

God had promised to give. There are two facts we must always remember. First, God's Word is powerful. Second, God always keeps His Word.

The Word spoken by our Lord will surely come to pass. Therefore, even if God's promise seems slow to be fulfilled, and even if situations

and circumstances are difficult, we must never mix in unbelief and must continuously trust God.

 

1. The motive for sending the 12 spies was also unbelief.

1) God had been promising to give the land of Canaan since the time of Abraham.

2) In Deuteronomy 1:22, it says that the Israelites asked to send spies ahead of them.

3) The spying of the land of Canaan was a result of unbelief concerning God's sure promise.

4) The entire people became engulfed in grumbling and weeping (chapter 14).

 

2. God respects our free will.

1) God has good plans for us.

2) Israel's request to spy out Canaan was a request imbued with unbelief.

3) God has granted and respects our free will.

4) Humans must bear the responsibility for exercising their free will themselves.

 

3. The report of the twelve spies and Israel engulfed in unbelief

1) Moses sent 12 spies to explore the whole of Canaan.

2) The spy report primarily consisted of a factual account along with a report of unbelief.

3) Caleb cried out that the expedition, which had been delayed for 40 days, should proceed immediately.

4) In today's passage, verses 31-33, the grasshopper faith of the 10 spies appears.

 

Conclusion: What the 10 spies failed to see and their unbelief

1) The 10 spies failed to see the truly important present God.

2) Their unbelief toward God had blinded their eyes.

3) Caleb had one more eye different from others.

4) As you live holding onto 3 todays, eyes like Caleb's will open.

 

The Israelite army listened to the report of unbelief rather than the report of faith. They had not escaped their long-ingrained slave mentality

from Egypt. They had undergone two years of training after the Exodus, yet they still approached everything with a negative perspective.

Grumbling and complaining are highly contagious. Because humans possess a sinful nature, they tend to listen to negative stories.

This is a characteristic of a fallen world. Romans 8:6 (NIV) states, "The mind governed by the flesh is death,

but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." A self-centered, fleshly mind cannot please God.

The spiritual mind holding onto 3 todays leads to the path of life and peace.

I pray that you seek faith like Caleb's, hold onto 3 todays, and triumph as a soldier of Christ.