In Genesis chapter 13 we see that God had a specific plan for the Israelites that was given to them through Abram for him and his descendants which was the promise of a land that would be flowing with milk and honey called Canaan. However, the promise would not come without struggle or challenges. But because of the difficulties and/or suffering that may come along with it, God eventually needed to raise up a deliverer in the book of Exodus in the form of the man Moses. Throughout this book we see Moses’ journey to become the leader God had created him to be.
And this brings us to Numbers 13 where Moses and the people reach the edge of the land that was promised. It is here that Moses sends 12 spies out to make an assessment of the land that was promised by God, not to determine whether or not it COULD be done but merely to see what challenges would need to be faced so they could prepare.
The 12 spies went out – all leaders – and all but 2 came back with a bad report. They had allowed their own thoughts and fears to override what God had said and pushed their own insecurities into the hearts of the people who were looking to them for guidance. (Be careful you don’t allow your leader to become bigger than God).
As a matter of fact, at one point along their journey from Egypt the Israelites had accused God of bringing them out of Egypt, a place of great bondage, only to bring them to a much more difficult and potentially dangerous place which, they thought, might even kill them. (Exodus 14)
Even today we sometimes find ourselves feeling the same way the Israelites felt. We hear God calling us out of a place of bondage – a place of fear, hurt, anxiety – that we’ve experienced most of our lives only to perceive the place He wants to take us to be more paralyzing than where we are only because the giants look different and unfamiliar despite His promise that the new place will be better and more fulfilling for us.
But why do we chose to stay in bondage? Well, here are 3 possible reasons.
1. We don’t want to leave the familiar, even if it is difficult.
2. We already know what to expect. There are no real surprises, even though we don’t like it.
3. We don’t have to do anything extra or different. It doesn’t require us to change. Change can be scary.
Listen. It’s time to pay attention to the one who knows you so completely that every hair on your head is numbered. (Matthew 10:30). It’s time to stop listening to the lies about how hard it might be and acknowledge that its already hard but now it’s just time to do something different with the support of the One who created you.
Don’t let the illusion of how big the giants are discourage you from completing the instructions God has clearly given you for your life.
And if the instructions aren’t quite clear, seek His face. He didn’t create you without a purpose. Whether its to pastor a church, write a book, raise your children, care for the sick or usher at your local church to bring a smile to someone’s face, you are here for a reason.
Stop standing in your own way.
And while you’re on the way to victory in the promised land give a shout of praise to God along the way.
What does the shout do for you? Ever gone to sporting event and your favorite team scored big and you gave out a shout even before the game was won? How did your feel? Excited? Empowered? Strong? Unified with your fellow fans?