Coming Home to Freedom - Overcoming Intimidation with Faith in God's Vision
Devotional Reading: Numbers 13:26-14:4
Intimidation. It is a powerful tool. Intimidated. It is a horrible feeling. The spies upon returning
from the promised land shared how they felt intimidated.
But intimidation does not have to tell the end of the story. Courage, faith, and perseverance are tools that help us to overcome and continue forward towards the prize.
How many people miss out on the blessing because they stop too soon because they are afraid? How often do people think, "that is just too good for me"? How often do the greatest rewards come after a time of trial and tribulation? Intimidation shouldn't be viewed as a stop sign.
The twelve spies representing the twelve tribes of Israel return from scoping out the promised land and give report. "It does flow with milk and honey! Here is it's fruit!" they share. And then comes, the "But..." It is the other shoe that drops. And instead of seeing that shoe dropping as an opportunity to put on the shoe and move forward, all they hear is the loud "THUD!" "The people there are powerful! They are strong! They are giants! And their cities are well-fortified" the spies report.
Whispering begins in the crowd and it builds to a roar and then a single spy, Caleb, silences them. "Listen! We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it!"
Of all the men who went to spy out the promised land, two men Caleb and Joshua, see God's vision, instead of their own. But the people don't listen to Caleb's encouragement, instead they groan and moan and lose sleep. The people cry out and complain to God, saying "Why did you bring us out of Egypt only to have us fall by the sword?" Fear grips them and drowns out their ability to see God's vision.
Sometimes people would rather go back to slavery in Egypt then take responsibility to stand up and fight for freedom. Freedom does not come easily. Unfortunately, it is something that has to be won. And it is often won by choosing to take a step of faith despite our fears.
It is visions from God that allow us to take these courageous steps! If it was all left up to us humans, we would choose to stay in our places of comfort, because it is easy, even though it isn't the best. God wants to give his children the best!
Caleb and Joshua did not invent the vision of the promised land. It was passed down to them from Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron did not invent the vision of the promised land. It was passed down to them through the generations starting with Abraham and Sarah. Abraham and Sarah did not invent the vision of the promised land. It was given to them by God. And God was the one who preserved and restated the vision through the generations.
If the vision had been Caleb's and Joshua's alone, they wouldn't have been able to stand against the negativity of the other spies. But faith changes us from the inside out. It may not always change the external circumstances, but it does change how we interact with and respond to them. The circumstances that all twelves spies witnessed and reported were the same. And we know from reading further in the Bible that the circumstances didn't change because of their faith. But, because of their faith they were given God's strength to overcome.
What are the circumstances or challenges in your life that are blinding your vision of God's vision for you? Whose voice are you listening to? Is it God's or someone else's? How might God change you so that you can better deal with the circumstances around you? How might God be calling you to stand up and take that step of faith?
Intimidation. It is a powerful tool. Intimidated. It is a horrible feeling. The spies upon returning
But intimidation does not have to tell the end of the story. Courage, faith, and perseverance are tools that help us to overcome and continue forward towards the prize.
How many people miss out on the blessing because they stop too soon because they are afraid? How often do people think, "that is just too good for me"? How often do the greatest rewards come after a time of trial and tribulation? Intimidation shouldn't be viewed as a stop sign.
The twelve spies representing the twelve tribes of Israel return from scoping out the promised land and give report. "It does flow with milk and honey! Here is it's fruit!" they share. And then comes, the "But..." It is the other shoe that drops. And instead of seeing that shoe dropping as an opportunity to put on the shoe and move forward, all they hear is the loud "THUD!" "The people there are powerful! They are strong! They are giants! And their cities are well-fortified" the spies report.
Of all the men who went to spy out the promised land, two men Caleb and Joshua, see God's vision, instead of their own. But the people don't listen to Caleb's encouragement, instead they groan and moan and lose sleep. The people cry out and complain to God, saying "Why did you bring us out of Egypt only to have us fall by the sword?" Fear grips them and drowns out their ability to see God's vision.
Sometimes people would rather go back to slavery in Egypt then take responsibility to stand up and fight for freedom. Freedom does not come easily. Unfortunately, it is something that has to be won. And it is often won by choosing to take a step of faith despite our fears.
It is visions from God that allow us to take these courageous steps! If it was all left up to us humans, we would choose to stay in our places of comfort, because it is easy, even though it isn't the best. God wants to give his children the best!
Caleb and Joshua did not invent the vision of the promised land. It was passed down to them from Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron did not invent the vision of the promised land. It was passed down to them through the generations starting with Abraham and Sarah. Abraham and Sarah did not invent the vision of the promised land. It was given to them by God. And God was the one who preserved and restated the vision through the generations.
If the vision had been Caleb's and Joshua's alone, they wouldn't have been able to stand against the negativity of the other spies. But faith changes us from the inside out. It may not always change the external circumstances, but it does change how we interact with and respond to them. The circumstances that all twelves spies witnessed and reported were the same. And we know from reading further in the Bible that the circumstances didn't change because of their faith. But, because of their faith they were given God's strength to overcome.
What are the circumstances or challenges in your life that are blinding your vision of God's vision for you? Whose voice are you listening to? Is it God's or someone else's? How might God change you so that you can better deal with the circumstances around you? How might God be calling you to stand up and take that step of faith?
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