June 28, 2019
A Pivotal Moment
Numbers 13:25–33
Blake Holmes
Central Truth
Fear hinders our obedience and threatens to rob us of God's blessings.
Key Verse | Numbers 13:30
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."
Numbers 13:25–33
Report of the Spies
25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people 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. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”
30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
Dive Deeper | Numbers 13:25–33
There comes a time in each of our lives when we reach one of those pivotal moments. It is a moment that, for better or worse, we will look back on for the rest of our lives. We will either recall such a moment with a sense of pride and gratitude or with a sense of regret and frustration.
At this juncture in Israel's history, the people face one of these moments. They must choose. Will they overcome their fears and obey the Lord, or will they shrink back from entering into the promise land and forfeit the Lord's blessings?
Caleb quiets the people and implores them to enter into the land. Why was he so confident? Because he believed that the Lord would help them overcome their enemies. Notice, however, that the people aren't focused on the Lord or what He promised. Instead, they are focused on the "giants" living in the land.
I have stood in this exact same spot many times. I've faced the choice to either move forward in faith or shrink back in fear. I remember feeling fearful when my loved one died, my house burned, I heard the doctor's bad news, and countless other times in my life.
Still today, fear directs me one way, but faith directs me the opposite way. I wrestle with fear over my future, the well-being of my kids, the direction of our country . . . and on and on. Yet, I'm reminded of the Lord who redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt and how He has also delivered me through His Son's death and resurrection.
Chances are, you are facing a similar situation today. The choice is yours. Will you choose to obey even when the giants loom large in the distance? Or, will you run from what the Lord has for you? Remember this: Fear hinders our obedience and threatens to rob us of God's blessings. I pray you walk in faith today.
On Monday, you will find out what the Israelites chose to do. Spoiler alert: I hope you don't follow their example.
Discussion Questions
1. When you look back over your life, how has the Lord helped you overcome your fears and walk in faith?
2. What are you fearful of today?
3. What promises of God could you hold onto as you face your fears?
4. What will it look like for you to walk in faith rather than fear today?