Love That Never Fails

28. Obstacles

Have you ever been promised something and looked forward to it only to find in reality, it wasn't exactly how you had envisioned it? Perhaps you had read about a property for sale and even looked at some pictures but when the time came to view it, it didn't live up to the picture you had in your mind! Well this was the experience of the Israelites when Moses sent a group into the promised land of Canaan. Most of them had trouble seeing past the negatives and painted a very grim picture on their return:

"The Lord said to Moses, "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders." So at the Lord's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites."
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Imagine the excitement of being chosen to be the first to go and see the special place God had chosen for His people! It must have been a great honour to be one of the twelve:

"When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)"
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:17-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was not just a quick visit —the men chosen needed to be there for some time to gain all the information in order to report back to Moses. While they could see that it did indeed flow with milk and honey, there were concerns that the majority could not overlook —there were many 'buts':

"At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land. They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.""
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:25-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How often do we paint something black or in a negative way because of one or two seemingly challenging aspects? The Israelites were forgetting that God had been with them and led them well so far. Only Caleb could see the 'glass half full' perspective and recommended that they push ahead and take possession of the land God had chosen for them.

How sad it was that the majority could not remember the unfailing love that God had demonstrated in so many ways throughout their journey! Perhaps we need to remember this in whatever the giants or obstacles may be at this time.
Yes we all face many obstacles as we live through this challenging time in history but God is lovingly with us, ready to help us triumph over every difficulty we face.

Don't miss out on the great things ahead because you see some giants —step forward with the strength God has given you!

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Dear Lord,

I have to admit to having fears for my future, more so in this year of 2020 than ever before! There are many 'giants' in view which leave me feeling quite uncertain! Please help me to remember that You love me and You are with me. Thank You that You promise to strengthen me and help me. Thank You that You hold me with Your righteous right hand. 

Today I choose to believe Your promises as I move forward on my journey through 2020. Give me the courage I need to have an outlook like Caleb had and to trust  that You know what is best for me.

Amen.