The Brave Obtain Wellbeing

Study: # 666 –Church in the Houses From: Tuesday, Jan. 5-11, 2011

TOPIC: "The Brave Obtain Wellbeing" Numbers 13:17-33

God asks us to conquer, not to tremble. We cannot live scared or fearful of what others say. We cannot be moved by what anyone thinks who knows nothing about what God has ordered. They speak negatively for many reasons, for jealousy, hatred, disputes, weakness; they speak according to the evilness within them. We should be clear of what we need to do. In occasions, even those who walk with us have their own great ideas to carry out first before being guided by God. Some want to persuade you with their own thoughts according to what is inside of them, but that is not God’s thought but the person himself under the effect of his own carnal nature. We want to go in prayer and obey God’s direction. There were twelve spies to explore the land that needed to be conquered. Moses designated the prince of each one of the twelve tribes of Israel to do such work. Numbers 13: 2, 3 The Israelites would have to conquer the land that, according to God’s promise, would belong to their parents, children and family. But, the incredulity that led the town to mumble made them recede and lose God’s promises and because of this they remained in the desert for 38 years. And this is how all older than 20 died. Those twelve princes were sent as spies to observe the land. Deuteronomy 1:22 They said, “Let us send men ahead…” Here it can be seen that God gave instructions concerning the people’s petition, although their attitudes revealed incredulity. God Himself had seen that land, so it was absurd and unnecessary to seek so much confirmation. This is how the men of this world are, they give more credit to their own ideas and imaginations and irrelevant reports than to God’s revelation. This is how many lives are ruined. Because that is to walk by what can be seen and not by faith, when it should be the other way around. We must be careful. 2 Corinthians 5:7 To recognize the land was a matter of concern for all the people since one of each tribe was going to do it. Each prince, according to his tribe, would give them their report. Those men who went to explore the land were incredulous with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. For such reason, they provoked the town to become discouraged. These spies should have had great prestige, well, they were chosen among all. Nevertheless, they reacted with incredulity and not like men of faith. Moses’ prayers were accompanied with the promises to conquer that land. Such is the connection between the prayer and the promise. The promises orient and encourage prayer. Instructions were given to those who were marching to conquer, it was necessary for them. We are told what to do when we are given promises on God’s behalf; our guide is in our prayer. The spies were sent to recognize the land they were to conquer, they were sent to observe what the land was like. They had to inform the town if the soil was fertile or sterile. Moses believed God and knew that the soil was fertile, but there was a town that was incredulous and he wanted to give them the satisfaction of a confirmation. They were also to be informed about the inhabitants, if they were strong or weak, if they were a few or numerous. The report had to bring courage. The spies posed as travelers, they spread out to observe and studied very well the land. They saw all the greatness of the land, they saw the big and beautiful grapes; that was God’s promise confirmed in what they saw. They couldn’t deny the great fruit of the land, but they contradicted themselves when informing the town and complaining about the giants. That is mankind’s nature, the doubt. Even if they see the good fruit, they say: “It is the land that devours those living in it.” It was true that those who dwelled there could destroy them. Of course, that is if God was not with them! But, in their incredulity they were not going to try, they were mumbling for forty days due to their lack of faith. What happened was that they strengthened themselves in their doubts and not in their faith. The dwellers of that nation were giants, but they exaggerated and the town listened and doubted. They said, “We cannot go against that town.” Like saying, we have to seek another solution and follow another path. But, Moses was wise and that was a numerous town he had to guide. They were very afraid because of their lack of faith. The giants could be stronger than them, but not stronger than God. Just the same, you are weak, but God is not. The cities were fortified against them but could not be fortified against “Heaven”. There was a promise made to Abraham that the land would belong to his descendants. God had declared that the Canaanites would be eliminated little by little. God pulled them out of Egypt with so much power! Those spies in their incredulities meant to say that God Himself could not maintain His word. How many doubts confuse the way! We need to be like Joshua and Caleb whenever others try to disseminate doubts in us. “We should go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly do more than them.” Brothers, let us silence the doubt. Caleb was willing to go without any fear. When one does not believe, one perishes. They remained circling in the desert and those who doubted were not able to obtain the promise. You believe and you obtain the promise. God is great. It is not the giants or anything that dwells where we have what belongs to us, it is our God! Amen.