The Spies to Canaan and Why God Was Angry (Part Two)

Good morning.

In Numbers 13:28 we read the report of ten of the twelve explorers: “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.” They thought with their carnal mind and reacted on information that they had heard through the news of the day. Through all the ages people have actually not changed. Our circumstances and technology may have changed, but when it comes to the nature of man there is nothing new under the son.

People talk and are lovers of news reports and gossip. Anak must have been a well-known notorious person, for the Israelites knew of him and he certainly created fear in these ten spies’ hearts. These ten also looked at their potential circumstances and panicked. They saw these impressive fortified cities and thought: ‘How will we ever settle in this land with all these hostile people in their fortified cities surrounding us.’ The thought that the Lord had actually promised that He would give them the land and that they therefore would actually occupy those cities and have everything ready-made for them, did not occur to them.

What has the Lord promised us? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” (Matthew 6:25, 31-34).

Just like the ten spies looked at these huge people and their fortified cities, and in the process forgot that the Lord had actually promised to give them the land, we often look at tomorrow and all its challenges and forget what the Lord has promised us. We also hear on the news of all these coming financial disasters, look at the political situation around us and the increasing crime and forget the Lord’s promises.

When it comes to provision we know we need to earn a living, for money won’t fall from the sky. If we therefore are called to work in the marketplace, we should do it, but it should not take up time that belongs to the Lord. He should always receive the firstfruits of our time as well. We do our best and He provides the remainder, since has promised His provision. I have recently heard testimonies of where people were in dire straits and money actually arrived at their front door in an envelope. It happened to us before as well.

We can also set ourselves up for blessing. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” (Luke 6:38). The context in which this passage was written applies to any form of giving such as giving judgement, condemnation, forgiveness, mercy and obviously blessing, which includes provision for others’ needs. If we are interested in doing business as an income, and we trust and please the Lord, we are set up for provision via that source. If we work for a salary and experience difficult times, we may not have a miraculous amount of money paid into our bank account every month, but the Lord will cause our resources, such as the food in the cupboard, the tyres and fuel of the car and so on to last longer. I remember a few times in the past when I realised our budget would never reach beyond the fifteenth of the month, but the next thing we knew we have made the end of month – an accountant’s nightmare.

To be continued.

Lord, please help me not to look at the circumstantial giants, but to you and your promises.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.