Take it!

This week I have been thinking about the 10 spies that they sent out to view the promised land.  You probably don't remember the names of 8 of them!   The other two were of course Joshua and Caleb.    In the book of Numbers we see that Moses sent out these 10 men off to spy out the land that God had promised them.  They were to check it out and see what kind of place it was, what kind of people lived there and bring back some produce from the land.

Well, if you know the story they brought back some figs, pomegranates and a bunch of grapes so big it had to be carried between two men!   It was a good land (no surprise there, seeing as God had told them it was good).  But when they got back 8 of the spies told the people "Well, it's a good land, but the people that live there included giants and all sorts of people that are really strong'

I can imagine that all Israel gasped in horror or shock. Each person murmuring to his neighbour about how awful the situation was. In the end Caleb has to still the people before they are even in a position to listen to his report...

Numbers 13:30 (KJV)
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Caleb was taking God at his word and his saw that they were not a people on their own, but that God Almighty, King of the universe was with them and had already promised Israel this place.  He was good to go, but look what happened next.  The other 8 guys that went responded.

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. 'Numbers 13:31-33 (KJV)

Suddenly they looked not even at just what they saw, but they elaborated on their fears.  There is no evidence from scripture that the people of that land thought they were like pesky grasshoppers.  In fact, if you look at Joshua 2:9. Rahab, who housed some more spies just before the people of Israel invaded, told them "I know God has given you this land and that your terror is fallen upon us and all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you!'

Imagination is powerful when we use it in the right way, but when we allow our minds to ascribe something to situation based on nothing, we are going to be in trouble.  What I mean by that is, have you ever thought someone is mad at you?  There's nothing to suggest that, but you decided they are, and then every little thing they do you believe is a result of this anger.  We can even alter our behaviour towards that person because of something we have created in our own minds. Later we find out they were just pre-occupied with their own stuff, and not mad at us at all!

In this instance, the people of Israel lifted up their voices and wept and wished they could go back to slavery!! Imagine that!   A land God had PROMISED them lay before them and yet, they were ready to give up and go back to a life of poverty, slavery, beatings....
If they had only listened to Joshua and Caleb (instead of threatening to stone them), they could have got up and taken the land then and there! 

Today my encouragement to you is three fold really. 
Firstly, look at things from God's perspective. Don't worry about what you circumstances look like in the natural.  His power and promises supersede whatever is in front of you. The Word is full of examples of this.  Read them and be excited! 

Secondly, don't assume what you don't know.  Don't elaborate using your own imagination; don't talk yourself out of your 'promised land'.   Faith is stirred up by what we speak and hear - so speak what God speaks and keep your eyes glued to his word and his promises.  Celebrate his goodness, rehearse his promises and thank him for what he has already given you. 

Finally, surround yourself with people that will encourage you to 'go and possess the land' not those who say, 'well, you're just like a little grasshopper, you can't do it!'

Have a great day!